profane
adjective (profane); verb (profane, profanes, profaned, profaning) — formal
Everyday
- Profane language is rude, offensive or shows no respect for religion; swearing. tree →
- (formal) Profane means not religious, ordinary and everyday, as opposed to sacred. tree →
- (formal) To profane a holy place or thing is to treat it with disrespect. tree →
In the lessons
In school rules «profane language» means swearing, which is not allowed. In religious education «sacred and profane» means holy and ordinary. In stories it shows a character's bad manners or disrespect. It belongs to the formal register.
Examples
- (formal) Profane language is not permitted in class. tree →
- The film was rated for its profane words. tree →
- He was told off for a profane joke. tree →
- (formal) The invaders profaned the temple. tree →
- Sacred music and profane music were both played. tree →
- His profane shouting upset the neighbours. tree →
- (formal) Profane remarks will result in a detention. tree →
- The poem mixes the holy and the profane. tree →
Note
Formal word. Noun: profanity. Pronounced pro-FAYN. Do not confuse with «profound» (deep).
In Jewish tradition
In the Torah to profane means to make something holy ordinary, by treating it without the respect that its holiness requires. In the Prophets and Psalms it is used for breaking God's laws, His Sabbaths and His covenant, which God says He will never profane.
Interpretation. Priests must keep holy and avoid profaning themselves, their family line, or the holy gifts. The tradition sees the separation of holy and ordinary as central to Jewish life. Ezekiel's charge that Sabbaths were profaned is read as one reason for the exile.
Examples
- He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself. (Torah LEV.21.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- And he shall not profane his seed among his people; for I am the LORD who sanctify him. (Torah LEV.21.15, JPS 1917) tree →
- And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they set apart unto the LORD; (Torah LEV.22.15, JPS 1917) tree →
- If they profane My statutes, and keep not My commandments; (Writings PSA.89.32, JPS 1917) tree →
- Thou hast despised My holy things, and hast profaned My sabbaths. (Prophets EZK.22.8, JPS 1917) tree →
- My covenant will I not profane, nor alter that which is gone out of My lips. (Writings PSA.89.35, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Formal word. Noun: profanity. Pronounced pro-FAYN. Do not confuse with «profound» (deep).
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «profane» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «profane» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «profane» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «profane» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/profane/