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; < Latinpius, 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
Synonyms 1. devout, godly, reverent. See religious.