— Pietist , n. — pietistic, pietistical , adj. — pietistically , adv.
/puy"i tiz'euhm/ , n.
1. a movement, originating in the Lutheran Church in Germany in the 17th century, that stressed personal piety over religious formality and orthodoxy.
2. the principles and practices of the Pietists.
3. ( l.c. ) intensity of religious devotion or feeling.
4. ( l.c. ) exaggeration or affectation of piety.
[ 1690-1700; Pietismus piet ( as ) PIETY + G -ismus -ISM ]
Syn. 4. sanctimony.