pious

Borrowed from Latin pīus (“pious, dutiful, blessed, kind, devout”), from Proto-Indo-European *pey- (“to adore”). Cognate with Old English fǣle (“faithful, trusty, good; dear, beloved”). More at feal.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpaɪəs/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -aɪəs

pious (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to piety, exhibiting piety, devout, godfearing.
   • 2014, Paul Salopek, Blessed. Cursed. Claimed., National Geographic (December 2014)

     Its male residents dress like crows: heavy black suits, black Borsalino hats, the old grandfathers hugely whiskered and the boys in peot, the curled sidelocks of the pious.

   • The righteous and pious exist until the disappearance of evil and after... absolute joy.

• Sometimes used pejoratively, in the sense of "mistaken" or "false" piety, as in "pious errors", "pious frauds".

• reverent, reverential, dutiful, religious, devout, godly

• (of or pertaining to piety): impious, independent, profane

• piously
• piousness

• piety

• pouis