desecrate

views updated May 14 2018

des·e·crate / ˈdesiˌkrāt/ • v. [tr.] (often be desecrated) treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violate: more than 300 graves were desecrated.DERIVATIVES: des·e·cra·tion / ˌdesiˈkrāshən/ n.des·e·cra·tor / -ˌkrātər/ n.

desecrate

views updated May 11 2018

desecrate XVII. Formed with DE- 6 as the antithesis of CONSECRATE.
So desecration XVIII.