fandom_grammar | Easily Confused Words: Violation vs. Volition

Let's take a closer look at two words that have a strikingly similar appearance but very different meanings: violation and volition.

The most common definition of violation is the act of doing something that is forbidden by a law or a rule:

"We could cut a week off our travel time if we took this route," said Kirk, tapping the display to highlight the course under discussion.

Mr. Spock raised one eyebrow. "That route cuts through the edge of the Archanis Sector, Captain. It would be a violation of the most recent treaty with the Klingons."

You won't be surprised to hear that this word is related to violence. Both words are fairly direct descendants of a Latin word meaning "to treat with violence or to dishonor," which may go back to an ancient root, vis, that can also mean strength.

Volition, on the other hand, is a rather esoteric word that refers to power of using one's will or to the act of making a decision:

"Dr. Miranda Jones is a remarkable woman," said Dr. McCoy. "I hear that she can withstand the mind-bending horror of the Medusans' appearance of her own volition."

"In point of fact, Doctor," said Mr. Spock, "She credits the mental disciplines that she learned on Vulcan for her protection in those circumstances."

This word descends from the Latin root volo (one of the forms of velle, "to wish"), meaning "I wish." It has nothing to do with violence at all!

The connection between violation and its sibling word violence is probably the easiest way to remember what this word actually means. The roots of volition aren't nearly so familiar, but we use its sibling volunteer (from Latin voluntarius, "of one's free will") quite regularly. If you are a volunteer, you are participating of your own volition.

Sources

Violation (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
Violate (The Free Dictionary)
Violation (Online Etymology Dictionary)
Volition (Online Etymology Dictionary)
Definition of volition in English (Oxford Dictionaries Online)