English Dictionary: desecrate | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for desecrate | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Desecrate \Des"e*crate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Desecrated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Desecrating}.] [L. desecratus, p. p. of desecrare (also desacrare) to consecrate, dedicate; but taken in the sense if to divest of a sacred character; de- + sacrare to consecrate, fr. sacer sacred. See {Sacred}.] To divest of a sacred character or office; to divert from a sacred purpose; to violate the sanctity of; to profane; to put to an unworthy use; -- the opposite of consecrate. The [Russian] clergy can not suffer corporal punishment without being previously desecrated. --W. Tooke. The founders of monasteries imprecated evil on those who should desecrate their donations. --Salmon. |