Pietism

[ pahy-i-tiz-uhm ]

/ ˈpaɪ ɪˌtɪz əm /

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noun

a movement, originating in the Lutheran Church in Germany in the 17th century, that stressed personal piety over religious formality and orthodoxy.

the principles and practices of the Pietists.

(lowercase) intensity of religious devotion or feeling.

(lowercase) exaggeration or affectation of piety.

OTHER WORDS FOR Pietism

4 sanctimony.

See synonyms for Pietism on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of Pietism

1690–1700; <German Pietismus<Latin piet(ās) piety + German -ismus-ism

OTHER WORDS FROM Pietism

Pi·e·tist, nounpi·e·tis·tic, pi·e·tis·ti·cal, adjectivepi·e·tis·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Pietism in a sentence

She caused the Pietist to visit her daily and instruct her in the stern belief.
A German Pompadour|Marie Hay
More than once she had thought of changing her mode of life to plunge into a pietist course of simplicity and asceticism.
Greifenstein|F. Marion Crawford
These laconic words of this wise pietist give us an insight into the significance of emotional life of woman.
Criminal Psychology|Hans Gross
The Duchess seemed much annoyed, and said that in this case she would invite the Pietist to preach to her in the castle itself.
A German Pompadour|Marie Hay

Kanitz is a pietist and legitimist, while Blow is neither one nor the other.
Memoirs of the Duchesse De Dino|Duchesse De Dino

British Dictionary definitions for Pietism (1 of 2)

pietism

/ (ˈpaɪɪˌtɪzəm) /

noun

a less common word for piety

excessive, exaggerated, or affected piety or saintliness

Derived forms of pietism

pietist, nounpietistic or pietistical, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for Pietism (2 of 2)

Pietism

/ (ˈpaɪɪˌtɪzəm) /

noun

history a reform movement in the German Lutheran Churches during the 17th and 18th centuries that strove to renew the devotional ideal

Derived forms of Pietism

Pietist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012