profane
- characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious.
- not devoted to holy or religious purposes; unconsecrated; secular (opposed to sacred).
- unholy; heathen; pagan: profane rites.
- not initiated into religious rites or mysteries, as persons.
- common or vulgar.
- to misuse (anything that should be held in reverence or respect); defile; debase; employ basely or unworthily.
- to treat (anything sacred) with irreverence or contempt; violate the sanctity of: to profane a shrine.
Origin of profane
Synonyms for profane
Antonyms for profane
Examples from the Web for profanely
Contemporary Examples of profanely
For us, this is Louis C.K. and his crabby, melancholic, and profanely funny half-hour comedy.
Historical Examples of profanely
I tell you,” insisted Philippi profanely, “there are no rooms for you to sleep in up-stairs.
Nan of Music MountainFrank H. Spearman
Behind him Trevison heard Corrigan raging impotently, profanely.
'Firebrand' TrevisonCharles Alden Seltzer
He could no more have said them than he could have profanely touched her.
The Bishop of CottontownJohn Trotwood Moore
He has lost control of his temper, and now talks unfeelingly, brutally, profanely.
The Death ShotMayne Reid
It must be something dreadful, or my master would not be raving so profanely.
The Belovd VagabondWilliam J. Locke
profane
- having or indicating contempt, irreverence, or disrespect for a divinity or something sacred
- not designed or used for religious purposes; secular
- not initiated into the inner mysteries or sacred rites
- vulgar, coarse, or blasphemousprofane language
- to treat or use (something sacred) with irreverence
- to put to an unworthy or improper use
Word Origin for profane
Word Origin and History for profanely
profane
late 14c., from Old French profaner, prophaner (13c.) and directly from Latin profanare "to desecrate, render unholy, violate," from profanus "unholy, not consecrated" (see profane (adj.)). Related: Profaned; profaning.
profane
mid-15c., "un-ecclesiastical, secular," from Old French profane (12c.) and directly from Latin profanus "unholy, not consecrated," according to Barnhart from pro fano "not admitted into the temple (with the initiates)," literally "out in front of the temple," from pro- "before" (see pro-) + fano, ablative of fanum "temple" (see feast (n.)). Sense of "unholy, polluted" is recorded from c.1500. Related: Profanely.