In 1884, Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, demonstrated the first working example of an espresso machine.
DESECRATE
desecrate, unhallow, deconsecrate
(verb) remove the consecration from a person or an object
desecrate, profane, outrage, violate
(verb) violate the sacred character of a place or language; “desecrate a cemetery”; “violate the sanctity of the church”; “profane the name of God”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
desecrate (third-person singular simple present desecrates, present participle desecrating, simple past and past participle desecrated)
(transitive) To profane or violate the sacredness or sanctity of something.
(transitive) To remove the consecration from someone or something; to deconsecrate.
(transitive) To change in an inappropriate and destructive way.
Synonyms
• (profane or violate sacredness): defile, unhallow; see also desecrate
• (remove the consecration): deconsecrate, desanctify
• (inappropriately change): pervert
Adjective
desecrate (comparative more desecrate, superlative most desecrate)
(rare) Desecrated.
Anagrams
• decastere
Source: Wiktionary
Des"e*crate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desecrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desecrating.] Etym: [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.]
Definition: 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
27 March 2025
SUCCESS
(noun) an event that accomplishes its intended purpose; “let’s call heads a success and tails a failure”; “the election was a remarkable success for the Whigs”
Coffee Trivia
