PIETY

piety, piousness

(noun) righteousness by virtue of being pious

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

piety (countable and uncountable, plural pieties)

(uncountable, religion) Reverence and devotion to God.

(uncountable) Similar reverence to one's parents and family or to one's country.

(countable) A devout act or thought.

(countable) A belief that is accepted unthinkingly and with undue reverence.

Source: Wiktionary

Pi"e*ty, n. Etym: [F. piété; cf. It. pietà; both fr. L. pietas piety, fr. pius pious. See Pious, and cf. Pity.]

1. Veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being, and love of his character; loving obedience to the will of God, and earnest devotion to his service. Piety is the only proper and adequate relief of decaying man. Rambler.

2. Duty; dutifulness; filial reverence and devotion; affectionate reverence and service shown toward parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc. Conferred upon me for the piety Which to my country I was judged to have shown. Milton.

Syn.

– Religion; sanctity; devotion; godliness; holiness. See Religion.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition