Unconsecrating

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of taking away a sacred or holy status previously granted to a place, object, or person
2. Removing the consecrated or blessed nature from something that was formally dedicated to religious or sacred use
3. The process of revoking the religious sanctification or dedication of an area, item, or individual

Etymology: "Unconsecrating" is the present participle of "unconsecrate", a verb built by adding the prefix "un-", meaning "reverse" or "undo", to "consecrate". Consecrate itself comes from Latin "consecrare", meaning to make sacred or dedicate something to a god, with "con-" intensifying "sacrare", "to consecrate", from "sacer", "sacred". Unconsecrate therefore names the act of undoing that dedication. The "un-" prefix is one of English's most productive tools for reversal, attaching to many verbs such as "unbind", "unlock" and "untie". Its use with "consecrate" is less common, and the form is mainly found in religious and legal contexts, where a building, cemetery or object is formally released from sacred use.

Synonyms: desecrating, profane, deconsecrating

Antonyms: consecrating, sanctifying, blessing, hallowing