Violating

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈvaɪəˌleɪtɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The act of acting contrary to a law, rule, or ethical principle indicates a serious breach of agreed-upon standards
2. Engaging in actions that disregard legal or social norms demonstrates a failure to comply with necessary regulations
3. The act of breaking laws, rules, or ethical guidelines represents a significant transgression of boundaries and accepted conduct

Etymology: The verb "violate" comes from Latin "violare," meaning to treat with force, whether bodily or mental, and the Latin word is rooted in "vis," meaning strength, power or force. The sense of harm is built into it from the start: to violate something was to break in on it by force, which is why the English word has always carried the idea of trespass as well as damage. Middle English took the word in the form "violat," used for something defiled or desecrated, and then formed the verb "violaten," meaning to defile or render impure. So for centuries the core idea was physical or moral corruption of something sacred or pure, and the notion of breaking a rule came later as an extension. The present form "violating" is simply the "-ing" ending added to that verb, showing the act in progress.

Synonyms: breaching, transgressing, infinging, contravening, disobeying

Antonyms: obeying, complying, following, upholding, respecting