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profane

pro·fane
P p

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [pruh-feyn, proh-]
    • /prəˈfeɪn, proʊ-/
    • /prəˈfeɪn/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [pruh-feyn, proh-]
    • /prəˈfeɪn, proʊ-/

Definitions of profane word

  • adjective profane characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious. 1
  • adjective profane not devoted to holy or religious purposes; unconsecrated; secular (opposed to sacred). 1
  • adjective profane unholy; heathen; pagan: profane rites. 1
  • adjective profane not initiated into religious rites or mysteries, as persons. 1
  • adjective profane common or vulgar. 1
  • verb with object profane to misuse (anything that should be held in reverence or respect); defile; debase; employ basely or unworthily. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of profane

First appearance:

before 1350
One of the 20% oldest English words
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

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Profane

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

profane popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 92% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

profane usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for profane

adj profane

  • alluvial — Alluvial soils are soils which consist of earth and sand left behind on land which has been flooded or where a river once flowed.
  • amoral — If you describe someone as amoral, you do not like the way they behave because they do not seem to care whether what they do is right or wrong.
  • animalistic — If you describe a person or their behaviour as animalistic, you mean that they do not try to hide or control their basic feelings and physical needs.
  • aweless — feeling no awe
  • banausic — merely mechanical; materialistic; utilitarian

noun profane

  • bawdiness — indecent; lewd; obscene: another of his bawdy stories.
  • blasphemy — You can describe something that shows disrespect for God or a religion as blasphemy.
  • blueness — the quality or state of being blue.
  • crudities — the state or quality of being crude.
  • crudity — the condition or quality of being crude

verb profane

  • begrime — to make dirty; soil
  • breached — the act or a result of breaking; break or rupture.
  • breaching — the act or a result of breaking; break or rupture.
  • contaminate — If something is contaminated by dirt, chemicals, or radiation, they make it dirty or harmful.
  • defile — To defile something that people think is important or holy means to do something to it or say something about it which is offensive.

adjective profane

  • disgracious — Lacking grace; not pleasing; disagreeable.
  • geotic — (obsolete) Belonging to earth; terrestrial.
  • heretical — of, relating to, or characteristic of heretics or heresy.
  • infidel — Religion. a person who does not accept a particular faith, especially Christianity. (in Christian use) an unbeliever, especially a Muslim. (in Muslim use) a person who does not accept the Islamic faith; kafir (def 2).
  • irreligious — not religious; not practicing a religion and feeling no religious impulses or emotions.

Antonyms for profane

adj profane

  • hallowed — regarded as holy; venerated; sacred: Hallowed be Thy name; the hallowed saints; our hallowed political institutions.
  • inviolate — free from violation, injury, desecration, or outrage.

Top questions with profane

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  • what is profane language?
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  • what is profane in religion?
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See also

Matching words

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