Sentence:  Even then there must have been a touch of profanity in such <WSD>cancrine</WSD> exhibitions; for if repeating the Lord's Prayer backwards has been considered in all Christian ages as part of the means to bring Satan to the side of the repeater, it may be fairly supposed that the same sort of ignoble trifling with King David would bring company little more desirable among the audience who could listen to it with some pleasure, and possibly a little apprehension. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Of or pertaining to reading something backwards.