Category:Profane

Pro*fane", a. Etym: [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." I. Disraeli. The profane wreath was suspended before the shrine. Gibbon.

2. Unclean; impure; polluted; unholy. Nothing is profane that serveth to holy things. Sir w. 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.

Syn. -- secular; temporal; worldly; unsanctified; unhallowed; unholy; Irreligious; irreverent; ungodly; wicked; godless; impious. See Impious.

Profane Pro*fane", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Profaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Profaning.] Etym: [l. profanare: cf. F. profaner. See profane, a.]

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. Shak.