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A.Word.A.Day--blasphemy

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blasphemy (BLAS-fuh-mee) noun

1. A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity. The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.

2. An irreverent or impious act, attitude, or utterance in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.

[Middle English blasfemie, from Late Latin blasphemia, from Greek, from blasphemein, to blaspheme.]

"The whole idea of such a coexistence, the creation of this mutant racino gene, is blasphemy to the purists in the sport." William Nack, A House Divided Gravely Threatened by Casino Gambling, Horse Racing Can't Decide Whether to Run With its Rival or Stay on a Different Track, Sports Illustrated, 10 Jul 1995, pp. 52+.

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