sā̆crĭlĕgus, a, um, adj. [sacer-lego],
- I. that steals sacred things, that robs a temple, sacrilegious: sacrilegas admovere manus, Liv. 29, 18: altare sacrilegum, Vulg. Jos. 22, 16; cf.: quorum templis et religionibus iste bellum sacrilegum habuit indictum, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 72, § 188.
As subst. (so usually): sā̆crĭlĕgus, i, m., one who robs or steals from a temple, one who commits sacrilege: sacrilego poena est, neque ei soli, qui sacrum abstulerit, sed etiam ei, qui sacro commendatum, Cic. Leg. 2, 16, 40: non sacrilegum, sed hostem sacrorum religionumque, id. Verr. 2, 1, 3, § 9: an sacrilegus, qui, ut hostes urbe expelleret, arma templo affixa detraxit? Quint. 5, 10, 36; cf. id. 3, 6, 38; 3, 6, 41; 4, 2, 68 (v. sacrilegium init.): cavendum ne fortiori subjungatur aliquid infirmius, ut sacrilego fur, Quint. 9, 4, 23: punit furta sacrilegus, Sen. Ira, 2, 28, 8; Vulg. Act. 19, 37.
- II. Transf., in gen., that violates or profanes sacred things, sacrilegious, impious, profane (freq. since the Aug. per.).
- a. Adj.: hominem perditum Miserumque, et illum sacrilegum, Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 29; Ov. M. 4, 23; cf.: o genera sacrilega! Ter. Ad. 3, 2, 6: quorum civis Romanus nemo erat sed Graeci sacrilegi, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 28, § 69: sacrilegos ignes admovere templis, Tib. 3, 5, 11: manus, id. 2, 4, 26; Hor. C. 2, 13, 2; Ov. F. 3, 700; id. Am. 1, 7, 28: dextra, id. M. 14, 539: meretricum artes, id. A. A. 1, 435: nefas (Catilinae), Mart. 9, 70, 2: hami (on account of the preceding sacris piscibus), id. 4, 30, 12.
Sup.: exi e fano, sacrilegissime, Plaut. Rud. 3, 4, 1.
- b. Subst., an impious, wicked, or profane person: parricida, sacrilege, perjure, etc., Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 129; Ter. Ad. 2, 4, 1; id. Eun. 5, 3, 2; 5, 3, 13; Sall. C. 14, 3; Ov. M. 8, 792; 8, 817.
With gen.: nuptiarum, i. e. a violator of marriage vows, an adulterer, Cod. Just. 9, 9, 29 fin.
In fem.: sā̆crĭlĕga, ae, Ter. Eun. 5, 1, 13; Ov. M. 11, 41.
Adv.: sā̆crĭlĕgē, sacrilegiously, impiously (late Lat.), Tert. Apol. 12.