- profanity
- profanity c.1600, from L.L. profanitas, from L. profanus (see PROFANE (Cf. profane)). Extended sense of "foul language" is from Old Testament commandment against "profaning" the name of the Lord.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
profanity
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profanity — I noun billingsgate, blasphemy, cursing, denunciation, derisive language, desecration, disparagement, disrespect, execration, foul language, foul talk, impietas, invective, malediction, obloquy, profanation, profane language, profaneness,… … Law dictionary
Profanity — Pro*fan i*ty, n. [L. profanitas.] [1913 Webster] 1. The quality or state of being profane; profaneness; irreverence; esp., the use of profane language; blasphemy. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is profane; profane language or acts. [1913 Webster]… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
profanity — *blasphemy, cursing, swearing Analogous words: imprecation, *curse, malediction: execration, objurgation, damning (see corresponding verbs at EXECRATE) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
profanity — [n] foul language abuse, blasphemy, curse, cursing, cuss, cuss word, dirty language*, dirty name*, dirty word*, execration, four letter word*, impiety, imprecation, irreverence, malediction, no no*, obscenity, profaneness, sacrilege, swearing,… … New thesaurus
profanity — ► NOUN (pl. profanities) 1) profane language or behaviour. 2) an oath or swear word … English terms dictionary
profanity — [prō fan′ə tē, prəfan′ətē] n. [LL(Ec) profanitas] 1. the state or quality of being profane 2. pl. profanities something profane; esp., profane language or the use of profane language SYN. BLASPHEMY … English World dictionary
Profanity — For the Wikipedia policy on profanity, see Wikipedia:Profanity. In cartoons, profanity is often depicted by substituting symbols ( grawlixes ) for words, as a form of non specific censorship. Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or … Wikipedia
profanity — noun 1) he hissed a profanity an outburst of profanity Syn: oath, swear word, expletive, curse, obscenity, four letter word, dirty word; blasphemy, swearing, foul language, bad language, cursing; informal cuss, cuss word; formal imprecation;… … Thesaurus of popular words
profanity — [[t]prəfæ̱nɪti, AM proʊ [/t]] profanities 1) N UNCOUNT Profanity is an act that shows disrespect for a religion or religious beliefs. [FORMAL] To desecrate a holy spring is considered profanity. Syn: sacrilege 2) N COUNT: usu pl Profanities are… … English dictionary
profanity — UK [prəˈfænətɪ] / US noun Word forms profanity : singular profanity plural profanities formal a) [countable/uncountable] a word or language that is offensive because it is rude, or shows a lack of respect for God or people s religious beliefs b)… … English dictionary
