/sooh'peuhr stish"euhn/ , n.
1. a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, occurrence, proceeding, or the like.
2. a system or collection of such beliefs.
3. a custom or act based on such a belief.
4. irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious, esp. in connection with religion.
5. any blindly accepted belief or notion.
[ 1375-1425; late ME superstition- (s. of superstitio ), equiv. to superstit- (s. of superstes ) standing beyond, outliving ( super- SUPER- + -stit-, comb. form of stat-, adj. deriv. of stare to STAND) + - ion- -ION ]