pious

[ pahy-uhs ]
/ ˈpaɪ əs /

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

Example sentences from the Web for piousness

British Dictionary definitions for piousness

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