n. [ L. fanum a place dedicated to some deity, a sanctuary, fr. fari to speak. See Fame. ] A temple; a place consecrated to religion; a church. [ Poet. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Such to this British Isle, her Christian fanes. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Vane. ] A weathercock. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Sp. ] A dry measure in Spain and Spanish America, varying from 1&unr_; to 2&unr_; bushels; also, a measure of land. De Colange. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F., fr. L. profanus, properly, before the temple, i. e., without the temple, unholy; pro before + fanum temple. See 1st Fane. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not sacred or holy; not possessing peculiar sanctity; unconsecrated; hence, relating to matters other than sacred; secular; -- opposed to sacred, religious, or inspired; as, a profane place. “Profane authors.” I. Disraeli. [ 1913 Webster ]

The profane wreath was suspended before the shrine. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Unclean; impure; polluted; unholy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing is profane that serveth to holy things. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Treating sacred things with contempt, disrespect, irreverence, or undue familiarity; irreverent; impious. Hence, specifically; Irreverent in language; taking the name of God in vain; given to swearing; blasphemous; as, a profane person, word, oath, or tongue. 1 Tim. i. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Secular; temporal; worldly; unsanctified; unhallowed; unholy; irreligious; irreverent; ungodly; wicked; godless; impious. See Impious. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Profaned p. pr. & vb. n. Profaning. ] [ L. profanare: cf. F. profaner. See Profane, a. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To violate, as anything sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy, or contempt; to desecrate; to pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to profane the Scriptures, or the ordinance of God. [ 1913 Webster ]

The priests in the temple profane the sabbath. Matt. xii. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put to a wrong or unworthy use; to make a base employment of; to debase; to abuse; to defile. [ 1913 Webster ]

So idly to profane the precious time. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a profane manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

The character of God profanely impeached. Dr. T. Dwight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being profane; especially, the use of profane language. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who treats sacred things with irreverence, or defiles what is holy; one who uses profane language. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]