• Profanation

    Pronunciation

    • UK IPA: /pɹɒfəˈneɪʃ(É™)n/

    Origin

    From Middle French prophanation, profanation, and its source, Late Latin profanatio, from the participle stem of Latin profānāre.

    Full definition of profanation

    Noun

    profanation

    (plural profanations)
    1. The act of profaning; desecration, blasphemous behaviour, defilement.
      • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.37:those which mocke and condemne it, intend neverthelesse to wrong this noble vertue; but onely to condemne the abuse and profanation of so sacred a title ....
      • 1826-06, The Gentleman's Magazine, page 528:...but there is a time and a season for all things, and we look upon such attempts as that before us, with a certain portion of respect for a good intention, but as a lamentable want of judgment and good taste, not to speak of a familiarity with the phraseology of Scripture, little short of profanation.

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