adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective
profānus
profānus (feminine profāna, neuter profānum)
Classical[prɔˈfaː.nʊs]Ecclesiastical[proˈfaː.nus]
Meaning
- adjectivesecular, unconsecrated, profane
- adjectiveimpious, wicked
- adjectiveignorant, unlearned
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Sacer · Sanctus
Sacer (ἄγος) denotes that which is sacred, inasmuch as it belongs to the gods, in opp. to profanus, like ἱερός; whereas sanctus (from ἁγνός) inasmuch as it is under the protection of the gods, and, being guarded from profanation, is, in consequence, pure and spotless, in opp. to pollutus, like ὅσιος. Hence sanctus homo is a pure, pious man; sacer, one accursed, devoted to the gods as an expiatory sacrifice. In the same manner sancire means to place under the immediate protection of the gods, as laws and compacts, for example; whereas sacrare means to dedicate to the gods, as temples and altars, for example. (iii. 198.)
Declension
| form | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | profānus | profāna | profānum |
| genitive | profānī | profānae | profānī |
| dative | profānō | profānae | profānō |
| accusative | profānum | profānam | profānum |
| ablative | profānō | profānā | profānō |
| vocative | profāne | profāna | profānum |
| form | masculine | feminine | neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | profānī | profānae | profāna |
| genitive | profānōrum | profānārum | profānōrum |
| dative | profānīs | profānīs | profānīs |
| accusative | profānōs | profānās | profāna |
| ablative | profānīs | profānīs | profānīs |
| vocative | profānī | profānae | profāna |
prŏfānus, a, um, adj. pro - fanum; prop. before the temple, i. e. outside of it; hence, opp. to the temple as a sacred object,
I. unholy, not sacred, common, profane.
I. Lit.: profanum quod non est sacrum, Plautus: Sacrum an profanum habeas parvi penditur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 228 Müll.; cf.:
profanum est, quod fani religione non tenetur, Fest. p. 253 ib.: Trebatius profanum id proprie dici ait, quod ex religioso vel sacro in hominum usum proprietatem conversum est, Macr. S. 3, 3, 2: loci consecrati an profani, Cic. Part. 10, 36; opp. sacrum, Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 27 cum omnia illā victoriā suā profana fecisset, Cic. Verr 2, 4, 55, § 122: res profanae et usu pollutae, Tac. A. 13, 57: flamma, Ov. F. 6, 440: usus, Plin. 15, 30, 40, § 135.—Of persons: procul o, procul este, profani, Conclamat vates, ye uninitiated, Verg A. 6, 258: Cereris ritus vulgare profanis, Ov A. A. 2, 601 profanum vulgus, Hor. C. 3, 1, 1: vulgus, Gell. N A. praef. fin.— II. Transf.
A. Wicked, impious (poet.):
mens profana, Ov M 2, 833: verba, id. Tr. 3, 5, 48: odia, Stat. Th. 1, 1: profanus Phorbas, Ov M. 11, 413 sit spes fallendi, miscebis sacra profanis, Hor Ep. 1, 16, 54.— Subst. prŏfānum, i, n., wickedness, impiety (post-Aug.): civilium bellorum profano, Plin. 16, 4, 3, § 7.—B. Unlearned, ignorant (post-class.); with gen.:
litterarum profani (opp.: doctrina initiati), Macr. Somn. Scip. 1, 18; Min. Fel. Oct. 5: qui profani sunt a sacramento veritatis, strangers to, Lact. 2, 15, 2: a veritate, id. 2, 16, 13; 7, 24, 10.—C. Ill-boding (poet.):
profanus bubo, Ov M 6, 431 avis, id. ib. 5, 543.— Hence, adv.: prŏfānē, wickedly, profanely (post-class.); illudere, Lact. 6, 23, 10: de divinitate disputare, Min. Fel. Oct. 8.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
profānus adj.
pro+fanum, out of the temple, not sacred, common, profane, unholy : loci: aedificia: flamma, O.: animalia, unclean , Ta.: sacra profanaque omnia spoliare: procul este, profani, ye uninitiated , V.: Cereris ritūs volgare profanis, O.: volgus, H.— Wicked, impious : mens, O.: verba, O.—Plur n . as subst: miscebis sacra profanis, H.— Ill-boding : bubo, O.
Origins
From pro- (“before”) + fānum (“temple”).
Descendants
- Catalanprofà
- Germanprofan
- Italianprofano
- Frenchprofanefrom Middle French profane
- Englishprofanefrom Middle French profane
- Occitanprofan
- Portugueseprofano
- Romanianprofan
- Spanishprofano
- Finnishprofaani