superstition
nounUK /ˌs(j)uː.pə(ɹ)ˈstɪ.ʃən/ · US /ˌs(j)u.pɚˈstɪ.ʃən/
Etymology From Middle French superstition, from Latin superstitio (“superstition”), from superstāre (“to stand above, to stand upon, to survive”) + -tiō (“-tion: forming nouns”), from super- (“above, over, upon”) + stāre (“to stand”).
1
Derogatory A belief considered to be irrational, unfounded, or based solely on fear and ignorance, particularly credulous reverence towards and belief in supernatural forces.
- What children we are in trifles! what slight things exercise an influence over us! to how much that our reason would be ashamed to acknowledge! nevertheless does it submit. Our whole nature must change; we must be less susceptible, less dependent on "blind accident," before we can shake off hopes and fears, which are almost superstitions.1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Changes in London”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 229:
- The world is not merely the sum of all its atoms... There are no atoms in themselves. Atoms regarded as things in themselves are a scientific superstition.1893 January, Paul Carus, “Panpsychism and Panbiotism”, in Monist, volume 3, number 2, page 251:
2
Archaic Excessive nicety; overscrupulousness.
- Derived terms
- sub-superstition, superstitionist, superstitionless, Superstition Mountains
- Related terms
- superstitious