Editing Profanity (section)

== Etymology and definitions ==
Profanity may be described as offensive language, dirty words, or taboo words, among other descriptors.{{Sfn|Johnson|Lewis|2010|p=106}} The term ''{{linktext|profane}}'' originates from classical [[Latin]] {{lang|la|{{linktext|profanus}}}}, literally {{gloss|before (outside) the temple}}, {{lang|la|pro}} meaning {{gloss|outside}} and {{lang|la|fanum}} meaning {{gloss|temple, sanctuary}}.<ref>Oxford English Dictionary Online, "profane", retrieved 14 February 2012</ref><ref>{{OEtymD|profane}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2024}} This further developed in [[Middle English]] with the meaning ''to desecrate a temple''.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=362}} In English, ''swearing'' is a catch-all linguistic term for the use of profanities, even if it does not involve taking an [[oath]].{{Sfn|Ljung|2011|p=1}} The only other languages that use the same term for both profanities and oaths are French ({{lang|fr|jurer}}), Canadian French ({{lang|fr-CA|sacrer}}), and Swedish ({{lang|sv|svära}}).{{Sfn|Ljung|2011|pp=1–2}}

English uses ''cursing'' in a similar manner to ''swearing'', especially in the United States. Cursing originally referred specifically to the use of language to cast a curse on someone,{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|pp=114–115}} and in American English it is still commonly associated with wishing harm on another.{{Sfn|Ljung|2011|p=31}} Equivalents to ''cursing'' are used similarly in Danish ({{lang|da|bande}}), Italian ({{lang|it|imprecare}}), and Norwegian ({{lang|no|banne}}).{{Sfn|Ljung|2011|p=2}} The terms ''swearing'' and ''cursing'' have strong associations with the use of profanity in anger.{{Sfn|Matusz|2017|p=36}} Various efforts have been made to classify different types of profanity, but there is no widely accepted typology and terms are used interchangeably.{{Sfn|Ljung|2011|pp=24–25}}

''[[Blasphemy]]'' and ''[[obscenity]]'' are used similarly to ''profanity'', though ''blasphemy'' has retained its religious connotation.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=362}} ''[[Expletive (linguistics)|Expletive]]'' is another English term for the use of profanity, derived from its original meaning of adding words to change a sentence's length without changing its meaning.{{Sfn|Hughes|2015|p=154}} The use of ''expletive'' sometimes refers specifically to profanity as an [[interjection]].{{Sfn|Stapleton|Beers Fägersten|Stephens|Loveday|2022|p=7}}{{Sfn|Ljung|2011|p=30}} ''[[Epithet]]'' is used to describe profanities directed at a specific person.{{Sfn|Ljung|2011|p=33}} Some languages do not have a general term for the use of profanities, instead describing it with the phrase "using bad language". These include Mandarin ({{lang|zh-Latn|zang hua}}), Portuguese ({{lang|pt|palavrão}}), Spanish ({{lang|es|decir palabrotas}}), and Turkish ({{lang|tr|küfur etmek}}).{{Sfn|Ljung|2011|p=2}}