Where does “profanity” come from?
Profanity comes from Middle French prophane, from Latin profanāre (to desecrate), combining pro- (before) and fānum (temple), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European per- (forward).
profanity (English): The quality of being profane; quality of...
Definitions
- The quality of being profane; quality of...
Ancestry of “profanity”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | profānitās | profaneness, profanity |
| 2 | Latin | profānus | secular, unconsecrated, profane |
| 3 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |