Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prophanatio(u)n(e, Profanatio(u)n, n. Also: prophain-, profain- and -ac(i)on. [e.m.E. prophanacion (1552), MF prophanation (c 1460 in Wartburg), profanation (1549 in Wartburg), late (eccl.) L. profānātiōn-, med. L. also prophan-.] Desecration or defilement of something sacred, or an instance of this.Espec., desecration of the Sabboth by failure to observe it or by active misconduct.(1) 1556 Knox IV 119.
The baptisme now usit in the papistrie is not the trew baptisme … but it is ane adulteratioun and prophanatioun of the same 1560 Conf. Faith in 14.. Acts II 533/1.
Adoratioun veneratioun … and keiping of breid in boxis … ar prophanatioun of Christis sacramentis 1560 Bk. Disc. 253.
Or ellis that men should sa contempne … Godis … holy institutionis, as that neathir in the rycht use of thame war thair any proffeit, neathir yit in thair prophanatioun war thair any danger 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 226.
Pro[p]hanacion 1574–5 in Calderwood III 345.
That the playing of clerk playes … upon the canonicall parts of the Scriptures induceth … a contempt and profanatioun of the same 1584 Melvill 214.
Taunting deceaving profanation of the word of God sacrilage [etc.] c1590 Fowler II 64/32.
Confessing the sacrifice of the messe to be ane horrible prophanatioun of Christes bodie Ib. 65/40. 1596 in Melvill 349.
And namlie of repentance quhilk nocht being trewlie practised then that place is abbusit … and God mair heilie offendit for publict profanatioun and mockage 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xvii.
Kirk-buriall … is but kirk profanation Ib. xviii.
The legal pollutions contracted from the dead … was of such speciall profanation that to approch the tabernacle vnder that kinde of vncleannes, was punished with … excommunication(2) 1562-3 Winȝet II 69/1.
Lat thame præfer the religioun of the antiquitie to the prophanatioun of noueltie [L. novitatis profanitati] Ib. 78/10.(3) 1583 Dalkeith Presb. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 169.
To anser … concerning the prophanatione of the Sabboth day with Robert Hude & litill Ihone & May playis 1595–6 Reg. Privy C. V 268 (see Prophan(e adj. 1 (4)). 1598 Acts IV 160/1. 1605 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 44.
That thay may be puneist for thair brak and prophanatioun of the Lordis Saboth 1606 Ib. 54. 1628 Dundonald Par. Rec. 254.
For prophanatioune of the Sabbath by playing at the pennistone 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 46.
Prophanacon 1660 Dunkeld Presb. II 405.
Prophaination(b) 1590 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 769.
The manifold kynds of violatioun and profanatioun of the Lords day, as ganging of mylnes [etc.] 1592 Edinb. B. Rec. V 73. 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 37.
Profaination 1698 S. Ronaldshay 70.(4) plur. 1562-3 Winȝet II 70/2.
To conuict and suppres ony of thai wyld awld prophanationis [L. profanitates], othir of schisme or hæreseis, except [etc.] 1590 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 768.
The last act made against papists [etc.] … mercatts and vthers profanatiouns of the Sabboth day non residents [etc.]