pious

[ pahy-uhs ]
/ ˈpaɪ əs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR pious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations.
characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion; sanctimonious.
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.
of or relating to religious devotion; sacred rather than secular: pious literature.
having or showing appropriate respect or regard for parents or others.

Origin of pious

1595–1605; < Latin pius, akin to piāre to propitiate

OTHER WORDS FROM pious

Words nearby pious

pioneer, pioneer day, pioneers, the, piopio, piosity, pious, piozzi, pip, pip emma, pip-emma, pipa

Words related to piously

equally, honorably, rightly, rightfully, reasonably, accurately, duly, properly, honestly, correctly, legally, equitably, legitimately, lawfully, decently, impartially, religiously, candidly, frankly, helpfully

Example sentences from the Web for piously

British Dictionary definitions for piously

pious
/ (ˈpaɪəs) /

adjective

having or expressing reverence for a god or gods; religious; devout
marked by reverence
marked by false reverence; sanctimonious
sacred; not secular
archaic having or expressing devotion for one's parents or others

Derived forms of pious

piously, adverb piousness, noun

Word Origin for pious

C17: from Latin pius, related to piāre to expiate