/ ˈsækrəlɪdʒ; NAmE / noun
[ U , sing. ] an act of treating a holy thing or place without respect :
( figurative )
It would be sacrilege to alter the composer's original markings.
► sac·ri·le·gious / ˌsækrəˈlɪdʒəs; NAmE / adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : via Old French from Latin sacrilegium , from sacrilegus stealer of sacred things, from sacer , sacr- sacred + legere take possession of.