religious English · revision 3022

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1200|origins=la religiōsus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /rɪˈlɪdʒ.əs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|xno|religius]], Old French religious (modern French religieux),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and directly from [[la|religiōsus|t=pious, devout, fearing the gods; scrupulous]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|religiō|t=religious observance, reverence, obligation]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) the source of [[religion]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The noun is from the adjective.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Devout, pious, used of Christians, Jews and pagans, and also “belonging to a religious order”: about 1200 in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and before 1225 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The noun, people bound by vow to a religious order, is also from about 1200.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of persons bound by monastic vows it is in the OED from before 1300, and of places and things belonging to a monastic order from about 1330.^(OED 1989) The general sense “concerning religion” is from the 1530s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The transferred sense “scrupulous, exact”, as in ''religiously careful'', is recorded from the 1590s;^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that it revives a sense the Latin word already had.^(Etymonline) As a noun for devout people in general it is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) ''Most religious'' was used as an epithet of kings from 1662.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1200 – devout; belonging to a religious order.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1300 – bound by monastic vows.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – noun, the devout.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1530s – concerning religion.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – scrupulous, exact.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1662 – ''most religious'', of royalty.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Believing in and [[revere|alt=revering]] God or a deity; [[devout]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of, concerned with or teaching [[religion]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Very careful or [[conscientious]]: ''with religious attention to detail''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A member of a monastic order, such as a [[monk]] or [[nun]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[religiously]]

+ * [[religiousness]]

+ * [[antireligious]]

+ * [[areligious]]

+ * [[interreligious]]

+ * [[irreligious]]

+ * [[multireligious]]

+ * [[nonreligious]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[antireligion]]

+ * [[antireligiosity]]

+ * [[coreligionist]]

+ * [[irreligion]]

+ * [[nonreligion]]

+ * [[religion]]

+ * [[religionism]]

+ * [[religionist]]

+ * [[religiosity]]

+ * [[subreligion]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Religious'' implies following a religion in both belief and practice;^(AHD) ''devout'' stresses sincere feeling, ''pious'' outward observance, and ''sanctimonious'' a show of piety.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}