Dictionary entry

Religious

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Re‐li″gious (r?–l?j″?s), a. [OF. religius, religious, F. religieux, from L. religiosus. See Religion.] 1. Of or pertaining to religion; concerned with religion; teaching, or setting forth, religion; set apart to religion; as, a religious society; a religious sect; a religious place; religious subjects, books, teachers, houses, wars.

Our law forbids at their religious rites

My presence. Milton.

2. Possessing, or conforming to, religion; pious; godly; as, a religious man, life, behavior, etc.

Men whose lives

Religious titled them the sons of God. Mlton

3. Scrupulously faithful or exact; strict.

Thus, Indianlike,

Religious in my error, I adore

The sun, that looks upon his worshiper. Shak.

4. Belonging to a religious order; bound by vows.

One of them is religious. Chaucer.

Syn. — Pious; godly; holy; devout; devotional; conscientious; strict; rogod; exact.