Săc'ri-lē'ge, n.

(-lē'), n. [Fr. sacrilége, Pr. sacrilegi, Sp., Pg., & It. sacrilegio, Lat. sacrilegium, from sacrilegus, that steals, properly, gathers or picks up, sacred things, from sacrum, that which is sacred, from sacer, sacred, and legere, to gather, pick up.] The crime of violating or profaning sacred things; the alienating to laymen, or to common purposes, what has been appropriated or consecrated to religious persons or uses.

And the hid treasures in her sacred tomb With sacrilege to dig. Spenser.