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.
Pro*fane"ly, adv. In a profane manner.
The character of God profanely impeached.
Dr. T. Dwight.
Pro*fane"ness, n. The quality or state of being profane; especially,
the use of profane language.
Pro*fan"er (?), n. One who treats sacred things with irreverence, or
defiles what is holy; one who uses profane language. Hooker.