profane

[pruh-feyn, proh-]

adjective

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.

verb (used with object), pro·faned, pro·fan·ing.

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

1350–1400; (adj.) < Latin profānus literally, before (outside of) the temple; replacing Middle English prophane < Medieval Latin prophānus desecrated (see pro-¹, fane); (v.) < Latin profānāre, derivative of profānus; replacing Middle English prophanen < Medieval Latin prophānāre to desecrate

Related formspro·fane·ly, adverbpro·fane·ness, nounpro·fan·er, nounhalf-pro·fane, adjectivenon·pro·fane, adjectivenon·pro·fane·ly, adverbnon·pro·fane·ness, nounsem·i·pro·fane, adjectivesem·i·pro·fane·ly, adverbsem·i·pro·fane·ness, nounun·pro·fane, adjectiveun·pro·fane·ly, adverbun·pro·fane·ness, nounun·pro·faned, adjective

Can be confusedlewd obscene pornographic profanatory profane

Synonyms for profane

1. blasphemous, sacrilegious, impious, ungodly. 2. temporal. 3. unhallowed. 5. low, mean, base. 7. desecrate.

Antonyms for profane

1. sacred. 2. spiritual. 3. holy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

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.
Why Is Louis C.K. So Funny? He Uses Humor as a Moral Compass.
Andrew Romano
May 2, 2014

Historical Examples of profanely

I tell you,” insisted Philippi profanely, “there are no rooms for you to sleep in up-stairs.
Nan of Music Mountain
Frank H. Spearman
Behind him Trevison heard Corrigan raging impotently, profanely.
'Firebrand' Trevison
Charles Alden Seltzer
He could no more have said them than he could have profanely touched her.
The Bishop of Cottontown
John Trotwood Moore
He has lost control of his temper, and now talks unfeelingly, brutally, profanely.
The Death Shot
Mayne Reid
It must be something dreadful, or my master would not be raving so profanely.
The Belovd Vagabond
William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for profanely

profane

adjective

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

verb (tr)

to treat or use (something sacred) with irreverence

to put to an unworthy or improper use

Derived Formsprofanation (ˌprɒfəˈneɪʃən), nounprofanatory (prəˈfænətərɪ, -trɪ), adjectiveprofanely, adverbprofaneness, nounprofaner, noun

Word Origin for profane

C15: from Latin profānus outside the temple, from pro- 1 + fānum temple

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

adj.

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.