noun, verb ·2 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   plural of viola (“stringed instrument”) form-of, obsolete, plural, transitive, uncommon

   "On his right, in two rows, were twelve violins, two viole, two ’celli, and two basses."

Verb

1. 1
   To violate, especially to rape. obsolete, transitive

Synonyms

All synonyms

abuseconstupratedefiledefouldishonourforce

Example

More examples

"On his right, in two rows, were twelve violins, two viole, two ’celli, and two basses."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English vyole, from either Middle French violer or Latin violāre. Compare violate.

Etymology 2

From Italian viole.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.