Violence, n.
Etymology: [F., fr. L. violentia. See Violent.]
1. The quality or state of being violent; highly excited action, whether physical or moral; vehemence; impetuosity; force. That seal You ask with such a violence, the king, Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me. Shak. All the elements At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn With the violence of this conflict. Milton.
2. Injury done to that which is entitled to respect, reverence, or observance; profanation; infringement; unjust force; outrage; assault. Do violence to do man. Luke iii. 14. We can not, without offering violence to all records, divine and human, deny an universal deluge. T. Burnet. Looking down, he saw The whole earth filled with violence. Milton.
3. Ravishment; rape; constupration. To do violence on, to attack; to murder. "She . . . did violence on herself." Shak. -- To do violence to, to outrage; to injure; as, he does violence to his own opinions.
Syn. -- Vehemence; outrage; fierceness; eagerness; violation; infraction; infringement; transgression; oppression.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Violence, v. t.
To assault; to injure; also, to bring by violence; to compel. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists violence only as an antonym, under apathy.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.