Main Entry: sac·ri·lege

Pronunciation: \ˈsa-krə-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 \ˌsa-krə-ˈli-jəs also -ˈlē-\ adjective

— sac·ri·le·gious·ly adverb

— sac·ri·le·gious·ness noun