See Also: Religion(medicine)
religion(encyclopedia)
religion(dictionary)
religion(dictionary)
Australian religion(encyclopedia)
religion and medicine(medicine)
religion (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
religion, philosophy of(encyclopedia)
prehistoric religion(encyclopedia)
mystery religion(encyclopedia)

religion (iou)



religion noun. ME.
[Anglo-Norman religiun, Old & mod. French religion from Latin religio(n-) obligation, bond, scruple, reverence, (in late Latin) religious (monastic) life, prob. from religare: see RELIGATE, -ION.]
A state of life bound by religious vows; the condition of belonging to a religious order, esp. in the Roman Catholic Church. ME.
Horace Walpole My father..was retired into religion.
A particular monastic or religious order or rule. Now rare. ME.
Belief in or sensing of some superhuman controlling power or powers, entitled to obedience, reverence, and worship, or in a system defining a code of living, esp. as a means to achieve spiritual or material improvement; acceptance of such belief (esp. as represented by an organized Church) as a standard of spiritual and practical life; the expression of this in worship etc. Also (now rare), action or conduct indicating such belief; in pl., religious rites. ME.
Gibbon The public religion of the Catholics was uniformly simple. H. Martineau The best part of religion is to imitate the benevolence of God. Day Lewis Religion..formed a natural part of my life. personified: Pope There stern Religion quench'd th' unwilling flame.
A particular system of such belief. ME.
W. Cather What religion did the Swedes have way back? fig.: Ladies Home Journal (US) Care of the hair has become a religion.
Devotion, fidelity; conscientiousness; pious attachment. L16-L17.
Shakespeare As You Like It Keep your promise...With no less religion than if thou wert..my Rosalind.
The sanction or obligation of an oath etc. E17-E18.
Phrases: experience religion, find religion colloq. = get religion below. freedom of religion the right to follow whatever religion one chooses. get religion colloq. be converted to religious belief, become religious. house of religion a religious house, a monastery or nunnery. make a religion of be scrupulously careful of doing, habitually make a point of. minister of religion: see MINISTER noun 2a. natural religion: see NATURAL adjective. old religion: see OLD adjective. revealed religion: see REVEAL verb 1.
religioner noun (a) a person bound by religious vows; (b) = RELIGIONIST: E19.
religionize verb (a) verb intrans. be addicted to or affect religion; (b) verb trans. imbue with religion, make religious: E18.
religionless adjective without religion; (of Christianity) dissociated from many of the doctrines and practices of conventional religion: M18.