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superstition

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su⋅per⋅sti⋅tion

  [soo-per-stish-uhn]
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–noun
1. 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.
2. a system or collection of such beliefs.
3. a custom or act based on such a belief.
4. irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious, esp. in connection with religion.
5. any blindly accepted belief or notion.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < L superstitiōn- (s. of superstitiō), equiv. to superstit- (s. of superstes) standing beyond, outliving (super- super- + -stit-, comb. form of stat-, adj. deriv. of stāre to stand ) + -iōn- -ion
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Are You Superstitious?
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su·per·sti·tion   (sōō'pər-stĭsh'ən)   
n.  

  1. An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.

    1. A belief, practice, or rite irrationally maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith in magic or chance.

    2. A fearful or abject state of mind resulting from such ignorance or irrationality.

    3. Idolatry.


[Middle English supersticion, from Old French superstition, from Latin superstitiō, superstitiōn-, from superstes, superstit-, standing over; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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