sacrilege
[ sak-ruh-lij ]
/ ˈsæk rə lɪdʒ /
noun
the violation or profanation of anything sacred or held sacred.
an instance of this.
the stealing of anything consecrated to the service of God.
Origin of sacrilege
1275–1325; Middle English < Old French < Latin
sacrilegium, equivalent to
sacri- (combining form of
sacrum holy place) +
leg(ere) to steal, literally, gather +
-ium
-ium
Words nearby sacrilege
sacrifice,
sacrifice fly,
sacrifice paddock,
sacrificial,
sacrificial anode,
sacrilege,
sacrilegious,
sacring,
sacring bell,
sacristan,
sacristy
Example sentences from the Web for sacrilege
British Dictionary definitions for sacrilege
sacrilege
/ (ˈsækrɪlɪdʒ) /
noun
the misuse or desecration of anything regarded as sacred or as worthy of extreme respect
to play Mozart's music on a kazoo is sacrilege
the act or an instance of taking anything sacred for secular use
Derived forms of sacrilege
sacrilegist (ˌsækrɪˈliːdʒɪst), nounWord Origin for sacrilege
C13: from Old French
sacrilège, from Latin
sacrilegium, from
sacrilegus temple-robber, from
sacra sacred things +
legere to take