— piously , adv. — piousness , n.
/puy"euhs/ , adj.
1. having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations.
2. characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion; sanctimonious.
3. practiced or used in the name of real or pretended religious motives, or for some ostensibly good object; falsely earnest or sincere: a pious deception.
4. of or pertaining to religious devotion; sacred rather than secular: pious literature.
5. having or showing appropriate respect or regard for parents or others.
[ 1595-1605; pius, akin to piare to propitiate ]
Syn. 1. devout, godly, reverent. See religious .