What does unhallowing mean?
Unhallowing means taking something out of the realm of the sacred and treating it as ordinary, improper, or profane. The word is especially associated with criticism of actions that seem to desecrate a religious building, violate a solemn tradition, or deprive a valued place or memory of its dignity. For example, converting a historic chapel into a nightclub can be described as unhallowing the chapel. The term may also apply more figuratively to commercial development, cultural appropriation, or other acts that diminish the spiritual or symbolic character of something. Unhallowing is a formal, literary verb whose force comes from its contrast with hallowing, the act of making something holy or sanctifying it. Although uncommon in everyday conversation, it is useful in precise discussion of religion, cultural heritage, architecture, and public memory.
verbTo deprive of sanctity or sacred character; to make unholy or profane.
- To deprive something of its sacred or sanctified character, making it unholy, profane, or degraded.
"The proposal was condemned for unhallowing the historic chapel by turning it into a nightclub."
"The proposal was condemned for unhallowing the historic chapel by turning it into a nightclub."
"In her essay, the writer described the commercial redevelopment as a form of unhallowing."
One prefix turns a place of worship into a nightclub: unhallowing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unhallowing come from?
Unhallowing is an English formation in which the prefix un- is added to hallow, meaning “to make holy.” Hallow derives from Old English halgian, “to consecrate or make holy,” which is related to holy. Its development reflects the long-established opposition between making something sacred and depriving it of that sacred character.
Related word forms
How unhallowing is actually used
A formal and relatively uncommon word, used especially in religious, historical, political, and cultural criticism. It can describe literal desecration or the figurative removal of something's dignity, purity, or spiritual value. It is much less common than the opposite process, hallowing.