pious
Use Pious in a sentence
əs 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.
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; < Latin pius, akin to piāre to propitiate
1595–1605; < Latin pius, akin to piāre to propitiate
Related forms
pi·ous·ly, adverb
pi·ous·ness, noun
pre·pi·ous, adjective
pre·pi·ous·ly, adverb
pseu·do·pi·ous, adjective
pseu·do·pi·ous·ly, adverb
qua·si-pi·ous, adjective
qua·si-pi·ous·ly, adverb
sem·i·pi·ous, adjective
sem·i·pi·ous·ly, adverb
sem·i·pi·ous·ness, noun
su·per·pi·ous, adjective
su·per·pi·ous·ly, adverb
su·per·pi·ous·ness, noun
un·pi·ous, adjective
un·pi·ous·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To pious
00:10
Pious
is an SAT word you need to know.
So is brevity. Does it mean:
| moral improvement or guidance |
| the quality of expressing much in few words; terseness: |
Collins
World English Dictionary
pious (ˈpaɪəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | having or expressing reverence for a god or gods; religious; devout |
| 2. | marked by reverence |
| 3. | marked by false reverence; sanctimonious |
| 4. | sacred; not secular |
| 5. | archaic having or expressing devotion for one's parents or others |
| [C17: from Latin pius, related to piāre to expiate] | |
| 'piously | |
| —adv | |
| 'piousness | |
| —n | |
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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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
pious
c.1600, from L. pius "dutiful, kind, devout," perhaps related to L. purus "pure, clean" (see pure).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
The enormous difficulty lies in reconciling pious hopes with practical change.
Some of his more pious newer songs lacked the spry charm of his mischievous old ones.
It gets large amounts of money for such purposes from pious businessmen.
His frequent laughter hints at an impish rather than a pious spirit.
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