piously
adv/ˈpaɪəsli/
Etymology From pious + -ly.
1
in a pious manner
- it is a marvel that any man, virtuously and piously disposed, should be so partially and zealously affected in a cause that has neither truth nor any honest usefulness in it.1688, Henry More, Divine Dialogues:
- ...Balgruntie was bent on makin' the attempt, especially after he heard that the castle was well vittled, an' indeed he was meritoriously joined by his men, who piously licked their lips on hearin' of such glad tidin's.1860, William Carleton, Tales & Stories of the Irish Peasantry:
1 more example
- The king seals his faith in Cranmer with what is piously not quite an oath (a more Henrician than Protestant one): 'God's blest mother, | I swear he is true-hearted' (154–5).2016, John Kerrigan, Shakespeare's Binding Language, page 412:
- Derived terms
- unpiously