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To divest of a sacred character or office; to divert from a sacred purpose; to violate the sanctity of; to profane; to put to an unworthy use; -- the opposite of consecrate. The [Russian] clergy can not suffer corporal punishment without being previously desecrated. W. Tooke. The founders of monasteries imprecated evil…

To violate the chastity of; to debauch. Dryden.

or or his commands, the laws, etc.); to transgress the commands of (one in authority); to violate, as an order; as, refractory children disobey their parents; men disobey their Maker and the laws. Not to disobey her lord's behest. Tennyson.

To make unsuitable in quantity, form, or fitness to an end; to violate symmetry in; to mismatch; to join unfitly. To shape my legs of an unequal size; To disproportion me in every part. Shak. A degree of strength altogether disproportioned to the extent of its territory. Prescott.

Word or honor pledged; promise given; fidelity; as, he violated his faith. For you alone I broke me faith with injured Palamon. Dryden.

To violate; to break by falsehood; as, to falsify one's faith or word. Sir P. Sidney.

To break; to violate; to make of no effect. [Obs.] France hath flawed the league. Shak.

lence to; to overpower, or to compel by violence to one;s will; especially, to ravish; to violate; to commit rape upon. To force their monarch and insult the court. Dryden. I should have forced thee soon wish other arms. Milton. To force a spotless virgin's chastity. Shak.

To break; to violate. [Obs.] Shak.

Want of decorum; impropriety of behavior; that in behavior or manners which violates the established rules of civility, custom, or etiquette; indecorousness.

Not to be infringed or violated.

To break; to violate; to transgress; to neglect to fulfill or obey; as, to infringe a law or contract. If the first that did the edict infringe, Had answered for his deed. Shak. The peace . . . was infringed by Appius Claudius. Golding.

One who infringes or violates; a violator. Strype.

To attack; to infringe; to encroach on; to violate; as, the king invaded the rights of the people.

Unviolated; uninjured; undefiled; uncorrupted. For thou, be sure, shalt give account To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep This place inviolable, and these from harm. Milton.

The state or quality of being inviolate; as, the inviolacy of an oath.

elected Harry, Duke of Anjou, for their king, with this clause irritant; that, if he did violate any part of his oath, the people should owe him no allegiance. Hayward.

To observe; to adhere to; to fulfill; not to swerve from or violate; to practice or perform, as duty; not to neglect; to be faithful to. I have kept the faith. 2 Tim. iv. 7. Him whom to love is to obey, and keep His great command. Milton.

Used of a fortress, signifying that it has never been captured, or violated. T. Warton. Macaulay. Maiden assize (Eng. Law), an assize which there is no criminal prosecution; an assize which is unpolluted with blood. It was usual, at such an assize, for the sheriff to present the judge with a pair of white gloves. Smart…

fection or reverence. Have we not seen The murdering son ascend his parent's bed, Through violated nature foce his way Pope.