pious
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
Borrowed from Latin pīus (“pious, dutiful, blessed, kind, devout”), from Proto-Indo-European *pewH- (“pure”). Cognate with Old English fǣle (“faithful, trusty, good; dear, beloved”). More at feal.
PronunciationEdit
- Rhymes: -aɪəs
AdjectiveEdit
pious (comparative more pious, superlative most pious)
- Of or pertaining to piety, exhibiting piety, devout, godfearing.
- December 2014, “Archived copy”, in National Geographic[1], archived from the original on 12 February 2015:
- Its male residents dress like crows: heavy black suits, black Borsalino hats, the old grandfathers hugely whiskered and the boys in peot, the curled sidelocks of the pious.
- Relating to religion or religious works.
- A pious cause.
- Insisting on or making a show of one's own virtue, especially in comparison to others; sanctimonious, condescending, judgmental.
Usage notesEdit
- Sometimes used pejoratively, in the sense of "mistaken" or "false" piety, as in "pious errors", "pious frauds".
SynonymsEdit
AntonymsEdit
- (of or pertaining to piety): impious, independent, profane
HyponymsEdit
Derived termsEdit
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
of or pertaining to piety
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practiced under the pretext of religion
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