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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
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Word of the Day
19 April 2025
CATCH
(verb) grasp with the mind or develop an understanding of; “did you catch that allusion?”; “We caught something of his theory in the lecture”; “don’t catch your meaning”; “did you get it?”; “She didn’t get the joke”; “I just don’t get him”
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