desecration

verb (used with object), des·e·crat·ed, des·e·crat·ing.

1. to divest of sacred or hallowed character or office.
2. to divert from a sacred to a profane use or purpose.
3. to treat with sacrilege; profane.

verb (tr)

1. to violate or outrage the sacred character of (an object or place) by destructive, blasphemous, or sacrilegious action
2. to remove the consecration from (a person, object, building, etc); deconsecrate

n.

1717, noun of action from desecrate (v.).

v.

1670s, formed from de- “do the opposite of” (see de-) + stem of consecrate. Old French had dessacrer “to profane,” and there is a similar formation in Italian; but Latin desecrare meant “to make holy,” with de- in this case having a completive sense. Related: Desecrated; desecrating.