different between religious vs saintly

English

Etymology

From Middle English religiouse, religious, religius, religeous, from Anglo-Norman religieus, religius, from Old French religious, religieux, and their source, Latin religi?sus (“religious, superstitious, conscientious”), from religi?.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??.?l?.d???s/
• Rhymes: -?d??s

Adjective

religious (comparative more religious, superlative most religious)

1. Concerning religion.

   • The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

2. Committed to the practice or adherence of religion.

3. Highly dedicated, as one would be to a religion.

Antonyms

• (concerning religion): irreligious, profane, secular, atheistic
• (committed to religion): areligious, irreligious
• (highly dedicated): casual

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

religious (plural religious or religiouses)

1. A member of a religious order, i.e. a monk or nun.
   • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 354:

     Towards the end of the seventh century the monks of Fleury [...] clandestinely excavated the body of Benedict himself, plus the corpse of his even more shadowy sister and fellow religious, Scholastica.

Hyponyms

Translations

Further reading

• religious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• religious in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

From Middle English *saintli (suggested by seyntly (adverb)), equivalent to saint +? -ly. Compare saintlike.

Adjective

saintly (comparative saintlier, superlative saintliest)

1. Like or characteristic of a saint; befitting a holy person; saintlike.

   Sophie led a saintly life.

Synonyms

• holy
• pious
• saintlike

Derived terms

• saintlihood
• saintlily
• saintliness

Anagrams

• antsily, nastily