The word "inviolate" is spelled with three syllables: /ɪn-vahy-uh-lit/. The "in-" prefix indicates negation, "vahy" is pronounced with a long "i" sound, and the "-uh-lit" ending is pronounced with a schwa sound followed by a clear "l" sound. This adjective means "not violated or profaned" and is often used in religious or legal contexts. Its spelling may seem unfamiliar at first, but the IPA transcription can help language learners master it.
Inviolate is an adjective that describes something that is free from any violation, infringement, or desecration. It refers to a state of being untouched, unharmed, or undisturbed, especially in a moral or sacred sense. When applied to a person, it suggests an individual who has not been violated physically, emotionally, or morally and is often associated with purity and integrity.
In a legal context, inviolate implies that a law, agreement, or right remains intact and has not been violated or breached. It underscores the idea of maintaining the sanctity and integrity of the law or any established codes of conduct.
Furthermore, inviolate can be used to describe places or objects that have not been tampered with or violated in any way. For example, it can refer to a pristine environment, untouched by human interference, or a historical monument which has remained undamaged and preserved over time.
Inviolate is also used metaphorically to connote an idea or principle that is considered sacred, unalterable, and beyond violation or compromise. It emphasizes the notion that something is beyond reproach or untouchable and thus should be treated with the utmost respect and reverence.
Overall, inviolate encompasses the concepts of intactness, purity, integrity, and sacredness, and is often associated with moral, legal, and physical preservation.
Uninjured; unprofaned; unbroken; unpolluted.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word inviolate has its roots in Latin. It comes from the Latin word inviolatus, which is a combination of the prefix in- meaning not and violar meaning to violate or to outrage. The suffix -ate is added to form an adjective, giving us inviolate, which means not violated or kept intact, free from injury or violation.