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Webster 1913 Edition


Pious

Pi′ous

,
Adj.
[L.
pius
: cf. F.
pieux
.]
1.
Of or pertaining to piety; exhibiting piety; reverential; dutiful; religious; devout; godly.
Pious hearts.”
Milton.
Pious poetry.”
Johnson.
Where was the martial brother’s
pious
care?
Pope.
2.
Practiced under the pretext of religion; prompted by mistaken piety;
as,
pious
errors;
pious
frauds.
Syn. – Godly; devout; religious; righteous.

Webster 1828 Edition


Pious

PI'OUS

,
Adj.
[L. pius.]
1.
Godly; reverencing and honoring the Supreme Being in heart and in the practice of the duties he has enjoined; having due veneration and affection for the character of God, and habitually obeying his commands; religious; devoted to the service of God; applied to persons.
2.
Dictated by reverence to God; proceeding from piety; applied to things; as pious awe; pious services of affections; pious sorrow.
3.
Having due respect and affection for parents or other relatives; practicing the duties of respect and affection towards parents or other near relatives.
4.
Practiced under the pretense of religion; as pious frauds.

Definition 2024


pious

pious

English

Adjective

pious (not comparable)

  1. Of or pertaining to piety, exhibiting piety, devout, godfearing.
    • 2014, Paul Salopek, Blessed. Cursed. Claimed., National Geographic (December 2014)
      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.

Usage notes

  • Sometimes used pejoratively, in the sense of "mistaken" or "false" piety, as in "pious errors", "pious frauds".

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