piety
pronunciation
How to pronounce piety in British English:
UK [ˈpaɪəti]
How to pronounce piety in American English:
US [ˈpaɪɪti]
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- Noun:
- righteousness by virtue of being pious
Word Origin
- piety
- piety: see pity
- piety (n.)
- early 14c. (late 12c. as a surname), "mercy, tenderness, pity," from Old French piete "piety, faith; pity, compassion" (12c.), from Latin pietatem (nominative pietas) "dutiful conduct, sense of duty; religiousness, piety; loyalty, patriotism; faithfulness to natural ties," in Late Latin "gentleness, kindness, pity;" from pius "kind" (see pious). Meaning "piousness" attested in English from c. 1600. Also see pity (n.).
Example
- 1. Religious hardliners praise his personal piety and humility .
- 2. My father 's piety made him strict in other ways .
- 3. In heraldry blue is used to symbolize piety and sincerity .
- 4. If anything , piety has become a prerequisite in politics .
- 5. Ghonim was a man of the modern world . He was not driven by piety .