Deeply religious and devout, showing strong respect for God or religious practices; sometimes used to mean falsely or exaggeratedly religious.
From Latin 'pius' (dutiful, devoted). In English since the 1200s. The negative connotation 'sanctimoniously religious' developed in the 1600s.
The word 'pious' has a negative undertone in modern English that the original Latin didn't have—when you call someone 'pious,' you might mean truly devout OR annoying and self-righteous. Context completely changes the meaning!
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