rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: fanum
Latin

fanum

temple or sacred place

Forms

  • fanum
  • fan- — Used before other endings.

Origin

Related to an old Indo-European family associated with solemn speech or designation.

Note

A place set apart by religious declaration could become a shrine.

2 / 5
A person carelessly trampling and muddying a small sacred ceremonial cloth fallen beside an altar, feet only and symbolic candles; clear disrespectful treatment, no identifiable religion or desecration gore.
noun

profanation

prah-fuh-NAY-shun/prˌɔfʌnˈeɪʃʌn/

The act of treating something sacred with disrespect.

Etymology
proLatinbefore, forward; on behalf of
+fanLatintemple or sacred place
+ationLatinan action, process, or result

The image “in front of the temple” underlies the sense “not consecrated.” Profanation names the act of rendering something holy unholy by treating it with contempt or irreverence.

Full entry

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