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pious
5 dictionary results for: Pious
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
pi·ous       [pahy-uhs] Pronunciation Key
–adjective
1.having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations.
2.characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion; sanctimonious.
3.practiced or used in the name of real or pretended religious motives, or for some ostensibly good object; falsely earnest or sincere: a pious deception.
4.of or pertaining to religious devotion; sacred rather than secular: pious literature.
5.having or showing appropriate respect or regard for parents or others.
[Origin: 1595–1605; < L pius, akin to piāre to propitiate]

—Related forms
pi·ous·ly, adverb
pi·ous·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. devout, godly, reverent. See religious.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
pi·ous       (pī'əs)  Pronunciation Key 
adj.  
  1. Having or exhibiting religious reverence; earnestly compliant in the observance of religion; devout. See Synonyms at religious.
    1. Marked by conspicuous devoutness: a pious and holy observation.
    2. Marked by false devoutness; solemnly hypocritical: a pious fraud.
  3. Devotional: pious readings.
  4. Professing or exhibiting a strict, traditional sense of virtue and morality; high-minded.
  5. Commendable; worthy: a pious effort.


[From Latin pius, dutiful.]

pi'ous·ly adv., pi'ous·ness n.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
pious 
1602, from L. pius "dutiful, kind, devout," perhaps related to L. purus "pure, clean" (see pure).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
pious

adjective
having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity; "pious readings" [ant: impious] 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Pious

Pi"ous\, a. [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's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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