Blasphemy Meaning
/ˈblæs.fə.mi/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn act of irreverence or contempt toward a god or toward something considered sacred; an impious act, utterance, view, etc.
nounAn act of irreverence towards anything considered inviolable; the act of disregarding a convention.
Sentence Examples
"Novels? I hate novels." Oh muse, forgive her blasphemy.
Me? Encourage you to work? Blasphemy!
The angry mob wanted Jesus killed for blasphemy.
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the conservative church, speaking against God was considered a serious ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In some old cultures, ____ was considered a very serious legal crime.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English blasfemie, from Old French blasfemie, from Ecclesiastical Latin blasphēmia, from Ancient Greek βλασφημία (blasphēmía, “profanity”), from βλασφημέω (blasphēméō, “to slander”). Displaced native Old English tāl.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Had God cancelled His everlasting Covenant with Israel? The mere thought was blasphemy! But what did God's silence and the present dark cloud mean?"
— 1920, John Rougier Cohu, The Bible and Modern Thought, page 325:
"Look, I don't think it ought to be blasphemy, just saying "Jehovah"."
— 1979, Monty Python's Life of Brian, spoken by Matthias (John Young):
"Shepard: What happened to those other Alliance officers? The ones who came before me?
Major Kyle: They wanted to take me away from here! They wanted me to abandon this place. Turn my back on my family. They spoke blasphemy!
Major Kyle: I did what I could to make their end quick and painless. I had no other choice. It was necessary to protect my children. Only I can keep them safe."
— 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Presrop:
"The fundamentalists in that religion hold that such views are blasphemy and that religion is above criticism."
— 2009, Francis, Business Ethics, Tata McGraw-Hill Education, →ISBN, page 139:
"Some historical information is given on the Panormo family of guitar makers and a whole chapter is called, "Maccaferri's 'Monstrosity'," the name given Julian's Maccaferri guitar due to the blasphemy of its having more than six strings, […]"
— 1999, American Lutherie: The Quarterly Journal of the Guild of American Luthiers:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the conservative church, speaking against God was considered a serious ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
In some old cultures, ____ was considered a very serious legal crime.