profane
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Middle French prophane, from Latin profānus (“‘not religious, unclean’”), from pro- (“‘before’”) + fānum (“‘temple’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
profane (comparative profaner or more profane, superlative profanest or most profane)
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Positive |
Comparative |
Superlative |
- Unclean; ritually impure; unholy, desecrating a holy place or thing.
- Not sacred or holy, unconsecrated; relating to non-religious matters, secular.
- Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; blasphemous, 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.
[edit] Synonyms
- secular
- temporal
- worldly
- unsanctified
- unhallowed
- unholy
- irreligious
- irreverent
- ungodly
- wicked
- godless
- impious
- vulgar
[edit] Translations
Unclean; impure; polluted; unholy
Not sacred or holy
Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
profane (plural profanes)
- A person or thing that is profane.
- 1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society 1985, p. 244:
- The nuns were employed in religious duties established in honour of St Clare, and to which no profane was ever admitted.
- 1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society 1985, p. 244:
- (freemasonry) A person not a Mason.
[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to profane (third-person singular simple present profanes, present participle profaning, simple past and past participle profaned)
- (transitive) 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.
- (transitive) To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile.
[edit] Translations
To violate, as anything sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt
[edit] Related terms
[edit] French
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Adjective
profane (epicene, plural profanes)
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Italian
[edit] Adjective
profane pl.
- Feminine form of profano.
[edit] Noun
profane f.
- Plural form of profana.
