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Superstitious - 4 dictionary results

su⋅per⋅sti⋅tious

[soo-per-stish-uhs]
–adjective
1. of the nature of, characterized by, or proceeding from superstition: superstitious fears.
2. pertaining to or connected with superstition: superstitious legends.
3. believing in, full of, or influenced by superstition.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME supersticious < L superstitiōsus, equiv. to superstiti(ō) superstition + -ōsus -ous


su⋅per⋅sti⋅tious⋅ly, adverb
su⋅per⋅sti⋅tious⋅ness, noun
su·per·sti·tious   (sōō'pər-stĭsh'əs)   
adj.  
  1. Inclined to believe in superstition.
  2. Of, characterized by, or proceeding from superstition.
su'per·sti'tious·ly adv., su'per·sti'tious·ness n.

Superstitious

Su`per*sti"tious\, a. [F. superstitieux, L. superstitiosus.]

1. Of or pertaining to superstition; proceeding from, or manifesting, superstition; as, superstitious rites; superstitious observances.

2. Evincing superstition; overscrupulous and rigid in religious observances; addicted to superstition; full of idle fancies and scruples in regard to religion.

Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. --Acts xvii. 22.

3. Overexact; scrupulous beyond need.

Superstitious use (Law), the use of a gift or bequest, as of land, etc., for the maintenance of the rites of a religion not tolerated by the law. [Eng.] --Mozley & W. -- Su`per*sti"tious*ly, adv. -- Su`per*sti"tious*ness, n.
Language Translation for : Superstitious
Spanish: supersticioso,
German: abergläubisch,
Japanese: 迷信深い

superstitious 
c.1386, from O.Fr. superstitieux, from L. superstitiosus, from superstitionem (nom. superstitio) "prophecy, soothsaying, excessive fear of the gods," perhaps originally "state of religious exaltation," related to superstes (gen. superstitis) "standing over or above," also "standing by, surviving," from superstare "stand on or over, survive," from super "above" (see super-) + stare "to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). There are many theories for the L. sense development, but none has yet triumphed. Superstition is attested from 1402. In Eng., originally especially of religion; sense of "unreasonable notion" is from 1794.
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