superstition
/ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/
noun
Origin
Latin
superstitio — prophetic knowledge, religious dread, or excessive ritualism
Overview
Meaning Now
- An irrational belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, or trust in magic, chance, or the supernatural.
- A belief or notion, not based on reason or scientific knowledge, in the significance of a particular event, object, or procedure.
Literal older meaning
standing over or surviving
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
supersticion
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term originated in the Roman context, where 'superstitio' was often contrasted with 'religio' (true religion or proper observance). While 'religio' implied a binding, respectful relationship with the divine, 'superstitio' implied an excessive, fearful, or redundant adherence to rites, sometimes interpreted as 'standing over' an object in awe or bewilderment.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
superstitio
“excessive fear of the gods; irrational religious awe”
From super- (above) + sistere (to stand/stand still).
- Late Latin
superstitio
“unauthorized or 'false' religious practice”
Used by early Christian writers to describe pagan rites.
- Middle English
supersticion
“religious belief or practice considered excessive or erroneous”
Adopted from Old French.
- Modern English
superstition
“irrational belief in supernatural causation”
Connections
Word parts
super-
prefix
above, beyond
stare
root
to stand
-tion
suffix
state or condition of
Related across languages
French
superstition
Spanish
superstición
superstition
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.