religioso
/re.liˈxo.so/
adjective
Origin
Latin
religiosus — scrupulous, pious, holy
Overview
Meaning Now
- Relating to or manifesting devotion to religious beliefs.
- Strictly or conscientiously observant of a system of faith.
Literal older meaning
bound back or scrupulously observant
Language path
Latin → Spanish → Spanish
Earliest form
religioso
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The term stems from the Latin 'religio', which likely refers to 're-ligare' (to bind back or tie together). In Roman antiquity, it denoted a sense of scrupulousness or awe toward the divine, which evolved in the Christian era to specifically describe adherence to theological systems.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
religiosus
“conscientious, scrupulous, devout”
Derived from religio.
- Old Spanish
religioso
“devout, monastic”
Often used to refer specifically to members of religious orders.
- Modern Spanish
religioso
“religious, devout”
Standard adjective in modern usage.
Connections
Word parts
re-
prefix
intensive or reiterative
lig-
root
to bind or tie
-ioso
suffix
full of, having the quality of
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Related to religioso
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.