[pahy-i-tiz-uh
m] 
| 1. | a movement, originating in the Lutheran Church in Germany in the 17th century, that stressed personal piety over religious formality and orthodoxy. |
| 2. | the principles and practices of the Pietists. |
| 3. | (lowercase) intensity of religious devotion or feeling. |
| 4. | (lowercase) exaggeration or affectation of piety. |
| pietistical | |
adjective | |
| 1. | of or relating to Pietism; "the Pietistic movement" [syn: pietistic] |
| 2. | excessively or hypocritically pious; "a sickening sanctimonious smile" [syn: holier-than-thou] |