See Also: piety(dictionary)
piety(dictionary)

piety (iou)



piety noun. ME.
[Old French piete (mod. piete) from Latin pietas dutifulness, from pius PIOUS. See also PITY noun.]
I.
= PITY noun I. ME-E17.
II.
Habitual reverence and obedience to God; devotion to religious duties and observances; godliness, devoutness. LME.
Ld Macaulay He was a man of..fervent piety..and an exemplary parish priest.
Dutifulness to parents, superiors, etc.; affectionate loyalty and respect. E16.
M. Lane In the excess of her filial piety she had revised what he had written.
An instance of religious devotion or affectionate loyalty; a pious act, observance, or characteristic. M17.
P. Rose His complex portrait of..socialism was replaced by bland pieties in its favour.
Phrases: mount of piety: see MOUNT noun1.
? See note s.v. PITY noun.