profanation

From Middle French prophanation, profanation, and its source, Late Latin profanatio, from the participle stem of Latin profānāre.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɹɒfəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/

profanation (countable and uncountable, plural profanations)

1. The act of profaning; desecration, blasphemous behaviour, defilement.
   • 1603, John Florio, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, chapter 37, in The Essayes, […], book II, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:

     those which mocke and condemne it, intend neverthelesse to wrong this noble vertue; but onely to condemne the abuse and profanation of so sacred a title […].

   • 1826-06, The Gentleman's Magazine, page 528:

     […] but there is a time and a season for all things, and we look upon such attempts as that before us, with a certain portion of respect for a good intention, but as a lamentable want of judgment and good taste, not to speak of a familiarity with the phraseology of Scripture, little short of profanation.

• profane

profaner +‎ -ation

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profanation f (plural profanations)

1. profanation