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What is the difference between sacred and profane?

sacred | profane | Antonyms |

Profane is a antonym of sacred.



As adjectives the difference between sacred and profane

is that sacred is set apart by solemn religious ceremony; especially, in a good sense, made holy; set apart to religious use; consecrated; not profane or common; as, a sacred place; a sacred day; sacred service while profane is unclean; ritually impure; unholy, desecrating a holy place or thing.

As verbs the difference between sacred and profane

is that sacred is past tense of sacre while profane is 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.

As a noun profane is

a person or thing that is profane.

sacred

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) sacred, isacred, past participle of (etyl) sacren, .

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Set apart by solemn religious ceremony; especially, in a good sense, made holy; set apart to religious use; consecrated; not profane or common; as, a sacred' place; a '''sacred''' day; ' sacred service.
  • Relating to religion, or to the services of religion; not secular; religious; as, sacred history.
  • Smit with the love of sacred song. -.
  • Designated or exalted by a divine sanction; possessing the highest title to obedience, honor, reverence, or veneration; entitled to extreme reverence; venerable.
  • Such neighbor nearness to our sacred [royal] blood Should nothing privilege him.
    Poet and saint to thee alone were given, The two most sacred names of earth and heaven. -Cowley.
  • Hence, not to be profaned or violated; inviolable.
  • Secrets of marriage still are sacred held. -.
  • Consecrated; dedicated; devoted; -- with to.
  • A temple, sacred to the queen of love. -.
  • (archaic) Solemnly devoted, in a bad sense, as to evil, vengeance, curse, or the like; accursed; baleful.
  • But, to destruction sacred and devote. -.
    Synonyms
    * (made holy) (dedicated) consecrated * divine * godly * hallowed * holy * (not to be profaned) inviolable * sacrosanct
    Antonyms
    * cursed * damned * profane * unholy * ungodly

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (head)
  • (sacre)
  • Anagrams

    *

    profane

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Unclean; ritually impure; unholy, desecrating a holy place or thing.
  • * Sir Walter Raleigh
  • Nothing is profane that serveth to holy things.
  • Not sacred or holy, unconsecrated; relating to non-religious matters, secular.
  • * I. Disraeli
  • profane authors
  • * Gibbon
  • The profane wreath was suspended before the shrine.
  • Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; blasphemous, 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.
  • a profane person, word, oath, or tongue
  • * Bible, 1 Timothy 1:9
  • Synonyms

    * (obscene) vulgar, inappropriate, obscene, debased, uncouth, offensive, ignoble, mean, lewd * secular * temporal * worldly * unsanctified * unhallowed * unholy * irreligious * irreverent * ungodly * wicked * godless * impious

    Antonyms

    * holy * sacred

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person or thing that is profane.
  • * 1796 , Matthew Lewis, The Monk , Folio Society 1985, p. 244:
  • The nuns were employed in religious duties established in honour of St Clare, and to which no profane was ever admitted.
  • (freemasonry) A person not a Mason.
  • Verb

    (profan)
  • 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.
  • * 1851 ,
  • With one mind, their intent eyes all fastened upon the old man’s knife, as he carved the chief dish before him. I do not suppose that for the world they would have profaned that moment with the slightest observation, even upon so neutral a topic as the weather.
  • To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile.
  • Antonyms

    * consecrate * sanctify