Pius
/ˈpiː.əs/noun
An adjective meaning dutifully religious, devout, or showing reverence and duty.
Did you know?In Roman culture, pietas was a sacred duty to gods, country, and family, and the same root later helped shape words like “pity,” where duty and compassion unexpectedly meet.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peh₂-
“to care for, protect, or show regard”
Latin
Latin
pius
“dutiful, devout, faithful to gods, family, or country”
Latin
Latin
pietās
“dutifulness, reverence, loyalty, and proper devotion”
Old French
Old French
pieux
“devout, godly, religious”
Middle English
English
pius
“devout or religiously dutiful”
Modern English
English
pious
“devoutly religious or showing sincere reverence”