Religion
/rɪˈlɪdʒ.ən/noun
A system of beliefs and practices often centered around spiritual or supernatural elements.
Did you know?The word 'religion' is believed to stem from the Latin 'religare', meaning 'to bind', hinting at a deep connection between faith and obligation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leɡ-
“to bind or tie”
Latin
Latin
religio
“a bond or obligation to the gods or divine”
Late Latin
Latin
religionem
“a system of beliefs and worship”
Old French
Old French
religion
“the state of being bound to a religious order”
Middle English
Middle English
religion
“belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power”
Modern English
English
religion
“a structured set of beliefs and practices regarding the divine or sacred”