piety

[pahy-i-tee]

See more synonyms for piety on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural pi·e·ties.

reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations: a prayer full of piety.
the quality or state of being pious: saintly piety.
dutiful respect or regard for parents, homeland, etc.: filial piety.

a pious act, remark, belief, or the like: the pieties and sacrifices of an austere life.

Origin of piety

1275–1325; Middle English piete < Middle French < Latin pietās, equivalent to pi(us) + -etās, variant (after i) of -itās; see pious, -ity

Related formssu·per·pi·e·ty, noun, plural su·per·pi·e·ties.un·pi·e·ty, noun, plural un·pi·e·ties.

Synonyms for piety

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1. respect, veneration, awe. 2. godliness, devotion, devoutness, sanctity, holiness.

Antonyms for piety

irreverence.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for piety

zeal, religiosity, fervor, loyalty, reverence, devoutness, faith, fealty, obedience, sanctity, ardor, holiness, allegiance, duty, godliness, religion, veneration, passion, application, fidelity

Examples from the Web for piety

Contemporary Examples of piety

“It seems that the different standard is (based on) the length of the beard and outwardly display of piety,” Hamdani said.
Disco Mullah Blasphemy Row Highlights Pakistan’s Hypocrisy
Shaheen Pasha
December 21, 2014
And he is to give this permission only to a priest “who has piety, knowledge, prudence and integrity of life.”
Pope Francis Gives Blessing to Exorcist Conference
Barbie Latza Nadeau
October 29, 2014
Before, his actions had been closely aligned church policies, which were basically a CYA masquerading as piety.
Donald Wuerl: America’s Candidate for Pope?
Christopher Dickey
March 10, 2013
People should cross themselves with piety and without rushing.
Pussy Riot, Modern Russian Women Trapped in Putin’s Time Machine
Masha Gessen
August 18, 2012
Ramadan is meant to be a time of piety and spiritual reflection.
A Ramadan of Discontent
Babak Dehghanpisheh
July 28, 2011

Historical Examples of piety

The Phoenicians who were not interested in piety succeeded where the others had failed.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
After all their piety was aimless and of no utility to humanity.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places
Archibald Forbes
Devote, then, ye mothers of Israel, devote your babes to piety and God!
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I
Francis Augustus Cox
All their abilities should scent of piety and the fear of God.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II
Francis Augustus Cox
If we imitate Lydia in diligence, let us not forget to imitate her in piety.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II
Francis Augustus Cox

British Dictionary definitions for piety

piety

noun plural -ties

dutiful devotion to God and observance of religious principles
the quality or characteristic of being pious
a pious action, saying, etc
rare devotion and obedience to parents or superiors

Word Origin for piety

C13 piete, from Old French, from Latin pietās piety, dutifulness, from pius pious

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

Word Origin and History for piety

early 14c. (late 12c. as a surname), "mercy, tenderness, pity," from Old French piete "piety, faith; pity, compassion" (12c.), from Latin pietatem (nominative pietas) "dutiful conduct, sense of duty; religiousness, piety; loyalty, patriotism; faithfulness to natural ties," in Late Latin "gentleness, kindness, pity;" from pius "kind" (see pious). Meaning "piousness" attested in English from c.1600. Also see pity (n.).