n.
Pronunciation: ' sa-kr ə -lij
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin sacrilegium, from sacrilegus one who robs sacred property, from sacr-, sacer + legere to gather, steal ― more at LEGEND
Date: 14th century
1 : a technical and not necessarily intrinsically outrageous violation (as improper reception of a sacrament) of what is sacred because consecrated to God
2 : gross irreverence toward a hallowed person, place, or thing
– sac · ri · le · gious \ ˌ sa-kr ə - ' li-j ə s also - ' l ē - \ adjective
– sac · ri · le · gious · ly adverb
– sac · ri · le · gious · ness noun