blasphemous

the word 'blasphemous' originates from the greek verb 'blasphēmeîn', which is a compound of 'blaptein' (to injure, hinder) and 'phēmē' (speech, utterance), thus literally meaning 'to speak injuriously'. this term was adopted into ecclesiastical latin as 'blasphemare', specifically to denote speech that profanes the divine. entering english via old french 'blasfemer', the core concept evolved from general slander to the specific, grave sin of showing contempt or irreverence towards god or sacred things. the suffix '-ous', of latin origin, was added to form the adjective, characterizing someone or something as being full of such profane speech or sentiment.

Structure: blasphem (evil-speaking) + ous (adjective-forming suffix) blasphem (from greek βλασφημεῖν (blasphēmeîn), meaning 'to speak profanely, to slander'); ous (a suffix of latin origin via old french, used to form adjectives meaning 'characterized by, full of')