pi|ous

pi|ous «PY uhs», adjective.

1. having or showing reverence for God; active in worship or prayer; religious: »

The pious old woman made every effort to go to worship each time she could.

2. done or used under pretense of religion: »

a pious fraud, a pious deception.

3. Archaic. dutiful to parents.

4. sacred, as distinguished from secular.

╂[< Latin pīus (with English -ous) dutiful]

–pi´ous|ly, adverb.

–pi´ous|ness, noun.

Synonym Study 1 Pious, devout mean religious. Pious emphasizes showing religion or reverence for God by carefully observing religious duties and practices, such as going to church, and sometimes suggests that more religion is shown than felt: »

She is a pious woman who goes to church every morning.

Devout emphasizes feeling true reverence that usually is expressed in prayer or devotion to religious observances, but may not be shown at all: »

He is a charitable, humble, and devout Christian and a good man.