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superstition

[soo-per-stish-uhn]

Superstition www.ask.com/Superstition Search for Superstition Q&A Superstition

noun

a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, occurrence, proceeding, or the like.

a system or collection of such beliefs.

a custom or act based on such a belief.

irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious, especially in connection with religion.

any blindly accepted belief or notion.

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin superstitiōn- (stem of superstitiō), equivalent to superstit- (stem of superstes) standing beyond, outliving (super- super- + -stit-, combining form of stat-, adj. derivative of stāre to stand) + -iōn- -ion

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Superstition

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Superstition is always a great word to know.

So is zedonk. Does it mean:

the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

superstition (ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃən)

—n
1.	irrational belief usually founded on ignorance or fear and characterized by obsessive reverence for omens, charms, etc
2.	a notion, act or ritual that derives from such belief
3.	any irrational belief, esp with regard to the unknown

[C15: from Latin superstitiō dread of the supernatural, from superstāre to stand still by something (as in amazement)]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia

superstition

belief, half-belief, or practice for which there appears to be no rational substance. Those who use the term imply that they have certain knowledge or superior evidence for their own scientific, philosophical, or religious convictions. An ambiguous word, it probably cannot be used except subjectively. With this qualification in mind, superstitions may be classified roughly as religious, cultural, and personal

Learn more about superstition with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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superstition

su·per·sti·tion