prŏfānus, a, um, adj. [pro-fanum; prop. before the temple, i. e. outside of it; hence, opp. to the temple as a sacred object], unholy, not sacred, common, profane.
- I. Lit.: profanum quod non est sacrum, Plautus: Sacrum an profanum habeas parvi penditur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 228 Müll.; cf.: profanum est, quod fani religione non tenetur, Fest. p. 253 ib.: Trebatius profanum id proprie dici ait, quod ex religioso vel sacro in hominum usum proprietatem conversum est, Macr. S. 3, 3, 2: loci consecrati an profani, Cic. Part. 10, 36; opp. sacrum, Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 27 cum omnia illā victoriā suā profana fecisset, Cic. Verr 2, 4, 55, § 122: res profanae et usu pollutae, Tac. A. 13, 57: flamma, Ov. F. 6, 440: usus, Plin. 15, 30, 40, § 135.
Of persons: procul o, procul este, profani, Conclamat vates, ye uninitiated, Verg A. 6, 258: Cereris ritus vulgare profanis, Ov A. A. 2, 601 profanum vulgus, Hor. C. 3, 1, 1: vulgus, Gell. N A. praef. fin.
- II. Transf.
- A. Wicked, impious (poet.): mens profana, Ov M 2, 833: verba, id. Tr. 3, 5, 48: odia, Stat. Th. 1, 1: profanus Phorbas, Ov M. 11, 413 sit spes fallendi, miscebis sacra profanis, Hor Ep. 1, 16, 54.
Subst. prŏfānum, i, n., wickedness, impiety (post-Aug.): civilium bellorum profano, Plin. 16, 4, 3, § 7.
- B. Unlearned, ignorant (post-class.); with gen.: litterarum profani (opp.: doctrina initiati), Macr. Somn. Scip. 1, 18; Min. Fel. Oct. 5: qui profani sunt a sacramento veritatis, strangers to, Lact. 2, 15, 2: a veritate, id. 2, 16, 13; 7, 24, 10.
- C. Ill-boding (poet.): profanus bubo, Ov M 6, 431 avis, id. ib. 5, 543.
Hence, adv.: prŏfānē, wickedly, profanely (post-class.); illudere, Lact. 6, 23, 10: de divinitate disputare, Min. Fel. Oct. 8.