King James Bible Dictionary

PROFA'NE, adjective [Latin profanus; pro and fanum, a temple.]

1. Irreverent to any thing sacred; applied to persons. A man is profane when he takes the name of God in vain, or treats sacred things with abuse and irreverence.

2. Irreverent; proceeding from a contempt of sacred things, or implying it; as profane words or language; profane swearing.

3. Not sacred; secular; relating to secular things; as profane history.

4. Polluted; not pure.

Nothing is profane that serveth to holy things.

5. Not purified or holy; allowed for common use; as a profane place. Ezekiel 42:20. and 48.

6. Obscene; heathenish; tending to bring reproach on religion; as profane fables. 1 Timothy 4:7.

Profane is used chiefly in Scripture in opposition to holy, or qualified ceremonially for sacred services.

PROFA'NE, verb transitive To violate any thing sacred, or treat it with abuse, irreverence, obloquy or contempt; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the sabbath; to profane the Scriptures or the ordinances of God.

1. To pollute; to defile; to apply to temporal uses; to use as base or common. Ezekiel 24:21.

2. To violate. Malachi 2:11.

3. To pollute; to debase.Leviticus 21:4.

4. To put to a wrong use.

PROFA'NED, participle passive Violated; treated with irreverence or abuse; applied to common uses; polluted.

PROFA'NELY, adverb With irreverence to sacred things or names.

The character of God profanely impeached.

1. With abuse or contempt for any thing venerable.

That proud scholar--speaks of Homer too profanely

PROFA'NENESS, noun Irreverence of sacred things; particularly, the use of language which implies irreverence towards God; the taking of God's name in vain.

Profaneness in men is vulgar and odious; in females, is shocking and detestable.

PROFA'NER, noun One who by words or actions, treats sacred things with irreverence; one who uses profane language.

1. A polluter; a defiler; as a profaner of the temple.