Violatory

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Characterized by actions or conduct that break rules or laws ; causing or resulting in a breach or infringement of rights or regulations
2. Marked by behavior that disregards established laws or norms ; producing an effect that leads to violation or transgression
3. Demonstrating a tendency to fail to comply with legal or ethical standards ; responsible for creating a situation where rules or rights are violated

Etymology: "Violatory" is a plain formation: the verb "violate," which comes from Latin "violare" (to treat with force, to outrage or dishonor), plus the suffix "-ory," which turns it into an adjective meaning having the quality of or tending toward the action named. A violatory act is one that breaks a law, rule, or norm, or one that produces such a breach. The suffix "-ory" arrived in English through Old French "-oire" and "-oire" forms from Latin "-orius," and it has long been used to build adjectives such as "obligatory," "satisfactory," and "transitory." The source record for "violatory" is an entry in the Oxford English Dictionary, which lists the adjective, so the word belongs to the more formal end of the English vocabulary.