SACRILEGE


Meaning of SACRILEGE in English

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

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.