profane
Verb · AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Adjective (4)
- characterized by profanity or cursing“foul-mouthed and blasphemous”“blue language”“profane words”Synonyms: blasphemousblueOpposite cleanSimilar dirty
- not concerned with or devoted to religion“sacred and profane music”“secular drama”“secular architecture”“children being brought up in an entirely profane environment”Synonyms: secularOpposite sacredSimilar laic, profanatorySee also earthly, impious, worldly
- not holy because unconsecrated or impure or defiledSynonyms: unconsecratedunsanctifiedOpposite holySimilar unholy, unhallowed
- grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred“blasphemous rites of a witches' Sabbath”“profane utterances against the Church”“it is sacrilegious to enter with shoes on”Synonyms: blasphemoussacrilegiousOpposite reverentSimilar irreverent
Verb (2)profaned, profaning
- corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality“debauch the young people with wine and women”“Socrates was accused of corrupting young men”“Do school counselors subvert young children?”“corrupt the morals”Synonyms: corruptpervertsubvertdemoralizedemoralisedebauchdebasevitiatedepravemisdirectMore general change, alterMore specific poison, lead off, infect, sensualize, suborn, bastardize
- violate the sacred character of a place or language“desecrate a cemetery”“violate the sanctity of the church”“profane the name of God”Synonyms: desecrateoutrageviolateMore general assail, assault
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: F., fr. L. profanus, properly, before the temple, i. e., without the temple, unholy; pro before + fanum temple. See 1st Fane.
1. Not sacred or holy; not possessing peculiar sanctity; unconsecrated; hence, relating to matters other than sacred; secular; — opposed to sacred, religious, or inspired; as, a profane place. “Profane authors.” Issac Disraeli
The profane wreath was suspended before the shrine.— Edward Gibbon
2. Unclean; impure; polluted; unholy.
Nothing is profane that serveth to holy things.— Sir Walter Raleigh
3. Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; irreverent; impious. Hence, specifically; Irreverent in language; taking the name of God in vain; given to swearing; blasphemous; as, a profane person, word, oath, or tongue. 1 Tim. i. 9.
Synonyms: Secular; temporal; worldly; unsanctified; unhallowed; unholy; irreligious; irreverent; ungodly; wicked; godless; impious. See Impious.
Origin: L. profanare: cf. F. profaner. See Profane, adjective
1. To violate, as anything sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate; to pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the Scriptures, or the ordinance of God.
The priests in the temple profane the sabbath.— Matt. xii. 5.
2. To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile.
So idly to profane the precious time.— William Shakespeare
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54