profane English · revision 949

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɹəˈfeɪn/ ''(UK)''; /pɹəˈfeɪn/, /pɹoʊˈfeɪn/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[inh|enm|prophane]], [[bor|frm|profane]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and directly [[der|la|profānus|t=unholy, not consecrated]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''prō fānō'' “in front of (outside) the temple”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) from ''prō'' “before” and ''fānum'' “temple”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The verb is from Latin ''profānāre'' “to desecrate”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[fane]] and [[fanatic]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a verb, to treat sacred things with irreverence, to desecrate (1382);^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) as an adjective, secular, not devoted to sacred purposes (mid-15th century in Etymonline; 1483 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Latin ''profānus'' described what lay outside the temple, and of persons “not initiated”.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) English kept the sense “secular, not sacred”, as in ''profane history'' and ''profane literature'' (1483),^(OED 1989) and the sense “not initiated” in playful use.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The sense “irreverent toward God or holy things” dates from the 1550s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and from it came the use of ''profane'' for blasphemous or vulgar language.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1382 – verb, to desecrate.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1450 – adjective, secular, unconsecrated.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1560 – irreverent toward sacred things.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1607 – ''profanity''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1616 – not initiated.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Showing contempt or irreverence for what is sacred; [[blasphemy|alt=blasphemous]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Not concerned with religion; [[secular]], as in ''sacred and profane music''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Vulgar or coarse, especially in language.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # Not initiated into a body of secret knowledge or ritual.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To treat (something sacred) with irreverence; to [[desecrate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To put to an improper or degrading use; to debase.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[profanely]]

+ * [[profaneness]]

+ * [[profaner]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[profanation]]

+ * [[profanity]]

+ * [[fanatic]]

+ * [[fane]]

+ * [[sacred]]

+ * [[sacrilege]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD distinguishes ''profane'', implying abusive disrespect for the sacred, from ''[[blasphemous]]'', referring to impious speech, and ''[[sacrilegious]]'', implying desecration of what is held sacred.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}