Etymology: < Middle French prophane, prophaine, profane (French profane ) not sacred (1228 in Old French), not pertaining to a religious order (1384), that acts impiously (1486) and its etymon classical Latin profānus (in post-classical Latin also prophanus, frequently in medieval manuscripts: see note) not dedicated to religious use, secular, not initiated into a religious rite, ceremonially unclean, impious, also as noun, denoting a person who is uninitiated or impious, lit. ‘before (i.e. outside) the temple’ < pro- pro- prefix¹ + fānum fane n.² Compare Catalan profà (1460), Spanish profano (late 14th cent. as prophano), Portuguese profano (15th cent.), Italian profano (a1321).The spelling proph- (in post-classical Latin, French, and English), is apparently due to association with such words from Greek as classical Latin prophēta , phantasia (see note on ph at P n.), and occurs as early as the 8th cent. in post-classical Latin prophanizare profanizate v. Prophane was apparently the more common form in English until the end of the 17th cent.

Etymology: < Middle French prophaner, profaner (French profaner ) to desecrate (1342), to treat with disrespect (1538), to misuse (a precious object) (second half of the 16th cent.) and its etymon classical Latin profānāre (in post-classical Latin prophanare ) to deconsecrate, to desecrate, violate < profānus profane adj. Compare Catalan profanar (1460), Spanish profanar (late 14th cent.), Portuguese profanar (1588), Italian profanare (a1498).