Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Desecrate \Des"e*crate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Desecrated}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Desecrating}.] [L. desecratus, p. p. of
   desecrare (also desacrare) to consecrate, dedicate; but taken
   in the sense if to divest of a sacred character; de- +
   sacrare to consecrate, fr. sacer sacred. See {Sacred}.]
   To divest of a sacred character or office; to divert from a
   sacred purpose; to violate the sanctity of; to profane; to
   put to an unworthy use; -- the opposite of consecrate.

         The [Russian] clergy can not suffer corporal punishment
         without being previously desecrated.     --W. Tooke.

         The founders of monasteries imprecated evil on those
         who should desecrate their donations.    --Salmon.

Source : WordNet®

desecrate
     v 1: violate the sacred character of a place or language;
          "desecrate a cemetary"; "violate the sanctity of the
          church"; "profane the name of God" [syn: {profane}, {outrage},
           {violate}]
     2: remove the consecration from a person or an object [syn: {deconsecrate}]
        [ant: {consecrate}]