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pro·fane (pr -f n , pr -)adj.1. Marked by contempt or irreverence for what is sacred. 2. Nonreligious in subject matter, form, or use; secular: sacred and profane music. 3. Not admitted into a body of secret knowledge or ritual; uninitiated. 4. Vulgar; coarse. tr.v. pro·faned, pro·fan·ing, pro·fanes 1. To treat with irreverence: profane the name of God. 2. To put to an improper, unworthy, or degrading use; abuse.
[Middle English prophane, from Old French, from Latin prof nus, from pr f n , in front of the temple : pr -, before, outside; see pro-1 + f n , ablative of f num, temple; see dh s- in Indo-European roots.]
pro·fan a·to ry (pr -f n -tôr , -t r , pr -) adj. pro·fane ly adv. pro·fan er n. |
profane [prəˈfeɪn]adj1. having or indicating contempt, irreverence, or disrespect for a divinity or something sacred 2. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) not designed or used for religious purposes; secular 3. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) not initiated into the inner mysteries or sacred rites 4. vulgar, coarse, or blasphemous profane language vb (tr)1. to treat or use (something sacred) with irreverence 2. to put to an unworthy or improper use [from Latin profānus outside the temple, from pro-1 + fānum temple] profanation [ˌprɒfəˈneɪʃən] n profanatory [prəˈfænətərɪ -trɪ] adj profanely adv profaneness n profaner n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Verb | 1. | profane - 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"alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" infect - corrupt with ideas or an ideology; "society was infected by racism" lead astray, lead off - teach immoral behavior to; "It was common practice to lead off the young ones, and teach them bad habits" poison - spoil as if by poison; "poison someone's mind"; "poison the atmosphere in the office" suborn - incite to commit a crime or an evil deed; "He suborned his butler to cover up the murder of his wife" | | 2. | profane - violate the sacred character of a place or language; "desecrate a cemetery"; "violate the sanctity of the church"; "profane the name of God"assail, assault, set on, attack - attack someone physically or emotionally; "The mugger assaulted the woman"; "Nightmares assailed him regularly" | | Adj. | 1. | profane - characterized by profanity or cursing; "foul-mouthed and blasphemous"; "blue language"; "profane words"dirty - (of behavior or especially language) characterized by obscenity or indecency; "dirty words"; "a dirty old man"; "dirty books and movies"; "boys telling dirty jokes"; "has a dirty mouth" | | 2. | profane - not concerned with or devoted to religion; "sacred and profane music"; "secular drama"; "secular architecture", "children being brought up in an entirely profane environment"earthly - of or belonging to or characteristic of this earth as distinguished from heaven; "earthly beings"; "believed that our earthly life is all that matters"; "earthly love"; "our earthly home" impious - lacking piety or reverence for a god worldly, secular, temporal - characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world; "worldly goods and advancement"; "temporal possessions of the church" sacred - concerned with religion or religious purposes; "sacred texts"; "sacred rites"; "sacred music" | | 3. | profane - not holy because unconsecrated or impure or defiled | | 4. | profane - 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"irreverent - showing lack of due respect or veneration; "irreverent scholars mocking sacred things"; "noisy irreverent tourists" |
profaneadjective1. sacrilegious, wicked, irreverent, sinful, disrespectful, heathen, impure, godless, ungodly, irreligious, impious, idolatrous a hard-drinking, profane Irishman sacrilegious clean, religious, spiritual, holy, proper, sacred, respectful, reverent, decorous verb desecrate, violate, abuse, prostitute, contaminate, pollute, pervert, misuse, debase, defile, vitiate, commit sacrilege They have profaned the traditions of the Church.
Translations profane [prəˈfeɪn]A. ADJ2. (= irreverent) [ person, language] → blasfemo profane [prəˈfeɪn]1. adja. (secular) → profano/a b. ( irreverent) → irriverente; ( language) → sacrilego/a
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