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): să_crĭlĕgus , 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,” Cic. 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.: să_crĭlĕga , ae, Ter. Eun. 5, 1, 13; Ov. M. 11, 41.—Adv.: să_crĭlĕgē , sacrilegiously, impiously (late Lat.), Tert. Apol. 12.
