blasphemer

American  

[blas-fee-mer, blas-fee-, -fuh-] / blæsˈfi mər, ˈblæs fi-, -fə- /

noun

1. a person who speaks irreverently of God or sacred things.

   The 2nd-century Christian heretic Marcion was called an open blasphemer of God and corrupter of the Scriptures.

2. a person who slanders or speaks evil of someone or something.

   Scolding everything new has long been a hobby among the retrogrades, conservatives, and blasphemers of technological progress.

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Etymology

Origin of blasphemer

First recorded in 1375–1425; from Middle French blashpemeur, from Old French blasphemere, from Late Latin blasphēmātor, from blasphēmāt(us) “spoken profanely” (past participle of blasphēmāre “to speak profanely”; see blaspheme ( def. )) + Latin -or -or ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

I mean the sentimentality of the poète maudit, the solipsistic self-love of the blasphemer.

From The Guardian • Oct. 5, 2012

I know that because of Coffin Joe I’m considered to be crazy, a blasphemer, and that some critics spit on me, but I’ve maintained my independence.

From New York Times • Oct. 19, 2011

Please, sir," he said, "my brother is not a blasphemer.

From The Guardian • Mar. 27, 2010

Edwin Arlington Robinson, who last week published his eighth quiet narrative poem, was never considered a blasphemer of the literary gods, but once he was more modern than he is today.

From Time Magazine Archive

The worst blasphemer heard the words, and fell upon his knees to thank a God whom he had so often denied.

From The Monarchs of the Main, Volume III (of 3) Or, Adventures of the Buccaneers by Thornbury, Walter