Desecrating

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The [Russian] clergy can not suffer corporal punishment
           without being previously desecrated.     --W. Tooke.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The founders of monasteries imprecated evil on those
           who should desecrate their donations.    --Salmon.
     [1913 Webster]