In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the word opposite in meaning to the given word 'Desecrate' (to violate the sacredness of something).

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your knowledge of antonyms for verbs related to religious or moral respect. The word 'Desecrate' is often used in contexts where something holy, sacred or respected is treated with violence, disrespect or pollution. To find the antonym, you must identify the word that expresses the opposite action, namely making something holy or treating it as sacred.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Target verb: 'Desecrate'.
- Options: 'Sanctify', 'Profane', 'Befoul', 'Defile'.
- Exactly one option must be the opposite in meaning, not another negative synonym.
- Standard religious and moral vocabulary meanings are assumed.

Concept / Approach:
'Desecrate' means to treat a sacred place or object with violent disrespect, to violate its holiness or to profane it. Therefore, its antonym should mean to make something holy, bless it, or treat it with the highest reverence. 'Sanctify' has exactly this meaning: to make holy, consecrate or set apart as sacred. The other options—'profane', 'befoul' and 'defile'—all carry negative senses related to making something dirty, impure or disrespectful, and are therefore close in meaning to 'desecrate' rather than opposite.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Fix the meaning of 'Desecrate': to damage, violate or show disrespect toward something sacred. Step 2: Examine 'Sanctify': this means to make holy, consecrate, bless, or regard with sacred respect. Step 3: Examine 'Profane': this means to treat something sacred with disrespect or to violate its holiness, very close to 'desecrate'. Step 4: Examine 'Befoul': this means to make something dirty or pollute it, which is again a negative, damaging action. Step 5: Examine 'Defile': this means to spoil, pollute or corrupt, especially something pure or holy, again similar to 'desecrate'.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider a temple as an example. If someone sprays graffiti and damages idols, they desecrate the temple. If a priest performs rituals to purify and dedicate the temple again, he sanctifies it. Thus 'desecrate' and 'sanctify' are natural opposites. Using 'profane', 'befoul' or 'defile' describes actions that damage or pollute, so these words sit on the same side of meaning as 'desecrate' and cannot be antonyms.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
'Profane' is wrong as an antonym because it is almost a synonym of 'desecrate', both involving disrespect toward the sacred. 'Befoul' is wrong because it describes making something dirty or polluted and reinforces the idea of damage. 'Defile' is wrong because it also means spoiling or polluting something pure, again matching the negative side rather than opposing it.

Common Pitfalls:
Many exam takers forget that antonym questions require the opposite meaning, not just another word from the same general theme. Seeing several negative words together, they may choose one of them without checking which one actually reverses the meaning. To avoid such mistakes, always state the target meaning in your own simple words first (for example, 'desecrate = spoil something holy') and then look for the word that describes the reverse action ('sanctify = make it holy').

Final Answer:
The opposite in meaning to 'Desecrate' is Sanctify.