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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913. | 
