▪ I. blasphemy
(ˈblɑːsfɪmɪ, -æ-)
Forms: 3 blasphemie, 4 blasfemie, -y(e, blasfamye, blasse- femy, 4–6 blasphemye, (5 blaseflemy), 6–7 blasphemie, 7 blasfemy, 5– blasphemy.
[ME. blasfemie, blasphemie, a. OF. blasfemie, a learned adaptation of L. blasphēmia:—Gr. βλασϕηµία slander, blasphemy, abstr. n. f. βλάσϕηµος blasphemous. In Spenser accented blasˈphe·my (F.Q. vi. xii. 25). Cf. blaspheme n.2]
1. Profane speaking of God or sacred things; impious irreverence.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 198 Þe seoueðe hweolp is Blasphemie. Þisses hweolpes nurice is þe þet swereð greate oðes. c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 1661 Þenne blynnes he not of blasfemy on to blame þe dryȝtyn. 1488 Caxton Chast. Goddes Chyld. 46 Some haue fallen in to blasphemie whiche ben they that speken unhonestly of god. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 118 b, Mocyons of infidelite, and blasphemyes. 1659 Milton Civ. Power Wks. 1738 I. 548 Blasphemy or evil speaking against God maliciously. 1768 Blackstone Comm. IV. 59 Blasphemy against the Almighty, by denying his being or providence. 1853 Robertson Serm. Ser. iv. v. (1876) 64 It is all blasphemy; an impious intrusion upon the prerogatives of the One Absolver. |
b. fig. (against anything held ‘sacred.’)
| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. ii. §9 (1873) 17 He was well punished for his blasphemy against learning. 1873 Morley Rousseau I. 165 You are drawing an indictment against nature,—no trifling blasphemy in those days. 1875 Hamerton Intell. Life ix. i. 302 This doctrine sounds like blasphemy against friendship. |
† 2. gen. Slander, evil speaking, defamation. Obs.
| 1656 Whalley in Burton Diary (1808) I. 103 To speak evil of any man is blasphemy. a 1656 Bp. Hall Tracts 5 Blasphemy..is a blasting the fame or blaming of another. |
† b. transf. A thing evil spoken of, an occasion of evil speaking. Obs.
| 1609 Bible (Douay) Ezek. v. 15 Thou shalt be a reproch, and blasphemie. |
3. Comb.
| 1828 E. Irving Last Days 68 A blasphemy-enduring ear. |
▪ II. † blasphemy, a. Obs.
[perh. f. ME. blaspheme n.2 + -y.]
Blasphemous.
| c 1384 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 158 A more blasphemye ground. Ibid. 1 But on this blasphemye heresie schullen alle cristene men crien out. |