Pro*fane" (?), a. [F., fr. L.
profanus, properly, before the temple, i. e., without the
temple, unholy; pro before + fanum temple. See 1st
Fane.]
1. Not sacred or holy; not possessing peculiar
sanctity; unconsecrated; hence, relating to matters other than sacred;
secular; -- opposed to sacred, religious, or
inspired; as, a profane place. "Profane
authors." I. Disraeli.
The profane wreath was suspended before the
shrine.
Gibbon.
2. Unclean; impure; polluted;
unholy.
Nothing is profane that serveth to holy
things.
Sir W. Raleigh.
3. Treating sacred things with contempt,
disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; irreverent;
impious. Hence, specifically; Irreverent in language;
taking the name of God in vain; given to swearing; blasphemous; as, a
profane person, word, oath, or tongue. 1 Tim. i.
9.
Syn. -- Secular; temporal; worldly; unsanctified;
unhallowed; unholy; irreligious; irreverent; ungodly; wicked; godless;
impious. See Impious.
Pro*fane", v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Profaned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Profaning.] [L. profanare: cf. F. profaner. See
Profane, a.]
1. To violate, as anything sacred; to treat
with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate; to
pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the
Scriptures, or the ordinance of God.
The priests in the temple profane the
sabbath.
Matt. xii. 5.
2. To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make
a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile.
So idly to profane the precious
time.
Shak.
