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Any violent catastrophe, involving sudden and extensive changes of the earth's surface.

A violent and widely extended change in the surface of the earth, as, an elevation or subsidence of some part of it, effected by internal causes. Whewell.

that the geological changes in the earth's crust have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; -- opposed to the doctrine of uniformism.

Rude; churlish; violent. Longfellow.

To throw violently; to hurl. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

olic, pain due to distention of the intestines by gas. -- Lead colic, Painter's colic, a violent form of intestinal colic, associated with obstinate constipation, produced by chronic lead poisoning. -- Renal colic, the severe pain produced by the passage of a calculus from the kidney through the ureter. -- Wind coli…

The act of striking together; a striking together, as of two hard bodies; a violent meeting, as of railroad trains; a clashing.

Violent agitation; confusion; tumult. [Obs.] There [were] great combustions and divisions among the heads of the university. Mede. But say from whence this new combustion springs. Dryden.

Disturbed or violent motion; agitation. [What] commotion in the winds! Shak.

A violent shock or agitation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

A striking or dashing together; violent collision; as, a conflict of elements or waves.

To gain or acquire by force; to take possession of by violent means; to gain dominion over; to subdue by physical means; to reduce; to overcome by force of arms; to cause to yield; to vanquish. "If thou conquer Rome." Shak. If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us. Shak. We conquered France, but felt our captive's charms…

A violent effort or struggle to obtain, or to resist, something; contest; strife. I would my arcontenion. Shak.

To contract violently and irregulary, as the muscular parts of an animal body; to shake with irregular spasms, as in excessive laughter, or in agony from grief or pain. With emotions which checked his voice and convulsed his powerful frame. Macaulay.

An unnatural, violent, and unvoluntary contraction of the muscular parts of an animal body.

peace whose principal duty is to inquire, with the help of a jury, into the cause of any violent, sudden or mysterious death, or death in prison, usually on sight of the body and at the place where the death occurred. [In England formerly also written and pronounced crowner.]

air, or obstructing or irritating matter, from the lungs or air passages, in a noisy and violent manner.

subverted without the consent of the people; an unexpected measure of state, more or less violent; a stroke of policy. -- Coup d'oeil (k. Etym: [F.] (a) A single view; a rapid glance of the eye; a comprehensive view of a scene; as much as can be seen at one view. (b) The general effect of a picture. (c) (Mil.) The fac…

turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion. [Prov. Eng.] Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks. Carlyle.

To break in pieces violently; to dash together with noise and violence. [R.] He shakt his head, and crasht his teeth for ire. Fairfax.