blaspheme
pronunciation
How to pronounce blaspheme in British English:
UK [blæsˈfi:m]
How to pronounce blaspheme in American English:
US [blæsˈfim, ˈblæsˌfim]
-
- Verb:
- utter obscenities or profanities
- speak of in an irrevent or impious manner
Word Origin
- blaspheme
- blaspheme: [14] Blaspheme has maintained a remarkable semantic and formal stability since its origins in Greek blásphēmos, which meant ‘speaking evil or profane things’ (blas- is related to blaptikós ‘hurtful’; the -phēmos element denotes ‘speaking’, and is related to phēmí ‘I say’). The derived Greek verb blasphēmein was transmitted via ecclesiastical Latin blasphēmāre to Old French and thence to English. Blastēmāre, an altered version of blasphēmāre, produced blame.=> blame
- blaspheme (v.)
- mid-14c., from Old French blasfemer "to blaspheme" (14c., Modern French blasphémer), from Church Latin blasphemare (also in Late Latin "revile, reproach"), from Greek blasphemein "to speak lightly or amiss of sacred things, to slander," from blasphemos "evil-speaking" (see blasphemy). A reintroduction after the original word had been worn down and sense-shifted to blame (v.). Related: Blasphemed; blaspheming.
Example
- 1. Blaspheme the twisted tendril as snare ?
- 2. Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever ?
- 3. To blaspheme the earth is now the dreadfulest sin , and to rate the heart of the unknowable higher than the meaning of the earth !
- 4. Jas . 2:7is It not they who blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called ?
- 5. In like manner these men also defile the flesh , and despise dominion , and blaspheme majesty .