Profane

a. [Fr. profane, It. & Sp. profano, Lat. profanus, properly before the temple, i. e., without the temple, unholy, from pro, before, and fanum, temple.] 1. Not sacred or holy; unconsecrated; not possessing peculiar sanctity; hence, secular; relating to matters other than sacred; as, profane history; a profane place. After the whole procession had visited the Vatican, the profane wreath was suspended before the shrine of St. Peter. Gibbon. 2. Characterized by impurity; polluted; unholy. Nothing is profane that serveth to holy things. Raleigh. 3. Especially, treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; irreverent; hence, specifically, irreverent in language; taking the name of God in vain; given to swearing; blasphemous; as, a profane person, word, oath, or tongue. Syn. — Secular; temporal; worldly; unsanctified; unhallowed; unholy; irreligious; irreverent; ungodly; wicked; godless; impious.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. PROFANED; p. pr. & vb. n. PROFANING.] [Fr. profaner, Sp. profanar, It. & Lat. profanare. See supra.]

1Sense 1. To violate, as any thing sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate; to pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the Sabbath; to profane the Scriptures or the ordinances of God.

2Sense 2. To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase. “So idly to profane the precious time.” Shak.

v. t. & a. Same as PROFANE. [Obs.]