Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.
- noun A belief, practice, or rite irrationally maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith in magic or chance.
- noun A fearful or abject state of mind resulting from such ignorance or irrationality.
- noun Idolatry.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun An ignorant or irrational fear of that which is unknown or mysterious; especially, such fear of some invisible existence or existences; specifically, religious belief or practice, or both, founded on irrational fear or credulity; excessive or unreasonable religious scruples produced by credulous fears.
- noun A religious belief or a system of religion regarded as based on ignorance and fear; especially, the worship of false gods, as induced by fear; pagan religious doctrines and practices.
- noun Hence, any false or unreasonable belief tenaciously held: as, popular superstitions.
- noun Excessive nicety; scrupulous exactness.
- noun Idolatrous devotion.
- noun = Syn. 1–3. Superstition, Credulity, Fanaticism, Bigotry. Credulity is a general readiness to believe what one is told, without sufficient evidence. Superstition may be the result of credulity in regard to religious beliefs or duties or as to the supernatural. As compared with fanaticism it is a state of fears on the one side and rigorous observances on the other, both proceeding from an oppression of the mind by its beliefs, while fanaticism is too highly wrought in its excitement for fear or for attention to details of conduct. Fanaticism is a half-crazy substitution of fancies for reason, primarily in the field of religion, but secondarily in politics, etc. Fanaticism is demonstrative, being often ready to undertake, in obedience to its supposed duty or call by special revelation, tasks that are commonly considered wicked or treated as criminal. Bigotry is less a matter of action: subjectively it is a blind refusal to entertain the idea of correctness or excellence in religious opinions or practices other than one's own; objectively it is an attitude matching such a state of mind. Credulity is opposed to skepticism, superstition to irreverence, fanaticism to indifference, bigotry to latitudinarianism. See
enthusiastic .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun An excessive reverence for, or fear of, that which is unknown or mysterious.
- noun An ignorant or irrational worship of the Supreme Deity; excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; also, a rite or practice proceeding from excess of sculptures in religion.
- noun The worship of a false god or gods; false religion; religious veneration for objects.
- noun Belief in the direct agency of superior powers in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in magic, omens, prognostics, or the like.
- noun Excessive nicety; scrupulous exactness.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
belief , not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, thatfuture events may beinfluenced by one'sbehaviour in somemagical ormystical way.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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The KJV uses the word superstition for religion, which is translated from the Greek text as deisidaimonia.
God is Not a Christian, Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu … Carlton Pearson 2010
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The KJV uses the word superstition for religion, which is translated from the Greek text as deisidaimonia.
God is Not a Christian, Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu … Carlton Pearson 2010
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The KJV uses the word superstition for religion, which is translated from the Greek text as deisidaimonia.
God is Not a Christian, Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu … Carlton Pearson 2010
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The KJV uses the word superstition for religion, which is translated from the Greek text as deisidaimonia.
God is Not a Christian, Nor a Jew, Muslim, Hindu … Carlton Pearson 2010
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Those who use the term superstition generically, still call the custom superstitious, from a latent and, perhaps, in some cases, unconscious impression that there is no supernatural.
An Illustrated History of Ireland from AD 400 to 1800 Mary Frances Cusack 1864
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Beyond this superstition is an accurate comprehension that every human being on the planet is more closely related that most people know or would feel comfortable knowing.
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Beyond this superstition is an accurate comprehension that every human being on the planet is more closely related that most people know or would feel comfortable knowing.
Archive 2009-05-01 2009
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One would imagine, that their husbands and fuhcrs thought them only child-ren of this world, and not heirs of a better hope, by the little care taken in improving their understanding: and were it not for the religion of the country, which we call superstition, half the Italian world of women would be looked upon merely as temporary idols for men to worship for temporary gratifications only.
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He would do anything, anything, to break what he calls the superstition of the Cross.
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He would do anything, anything, to break what he calls the superstition of the Cross.
rocana01pd2018 commented on the word superstition
Dark River
Page 21
They were as superstitious as owls!
November 6, 2012