Blasphemy
/ˈblæsfəmi/noun
The act of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.
Did you know?In ancient times, blasphemy was often punishable by death, reflecting the extreme seriousness with which sacred words were regarded.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰel-
“to call, to cry out, to shout”
Ancient Greek
Greek
βλάσφημος (blasphemos)
“speaking ill or slanderous, specifically against the divine”
Latin
Latin
blasphemare
“to speak evil of, to revile, especially in a religious context”
Old French
Old French
blasphème
“a profane word or act against God”
Middle English
Middle English
blasphemye
“the act of speaking irreverently about God or sacred matters”
Modern English
English
blasphemy
“the act of showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or sacred things.”
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