blaspheme
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /ˌblæsˈfiːm/, /ˌblɑːsˈfiːm/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈblæs.fim/
Verb

blaspheme (blasphemes, present participle blaspheming; past and past participle blasphemed)

  1. (intransitive) To commit blasphemy; to speak against God or religious doctrine.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Mark 3:29 ↗:
      But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
    • 1637, Thomas Heywood, The Royall King, and the Loyall Subject. […], London: Printed by Nich[olas] and John Okes, for James Becket, […], OCLC 1098476341 ↗, Act I, scene i ↗:
      Thus from the holy Warres are we return'd, / To ſlumber in the Summer of ſoft peace, / Since thoſe proud enemies that late blaſpheamd / And ſpit their furies in the face of Heaven, / Are now laid low in duſt.
    • 1980, The Blues Brothers:
      Mrs. Murphy: Don't you blaspheme in here!
  2. (transitive) To speak of, or address, with impious irreverence; to revile impiously (anything sacred).
    • 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: Printed by J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], OCLC 228732398 ↗, page 32 ↗:
      So Dagon#English|Dagon ſhall be magnifi'd, and God, / Beſides whom is no God, compar'd with Idols, / Diſglorifi'd, blaſphem'd, and had in ſcorn {{...}
    • How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge thyself on all those who thus continually blaspheme thy great and all-glorious name?
  3. (transitive) To calumniate; to revile; to abuse.
    • c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, “Measvre for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene iv]:
      You do blaspheme the good in mocking me.
    • 1725, Homer; [Alexander Pope], transl., “Book XIV”, in The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume III, London: Printed for Bernard Lintot, OCLC 8736646 ↗:
      Those who from our labours heap their board, / Blaspheme their feeder and forget their lord.
Related terms Translations Noun

blaspheme (plural blasphemes)

  1. Obsolete spelling of blasphemy#English|blasphemy



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