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seeming; one who feigns to be other and better than he is; a false pretender to virtue or piety; one who simulates virtue or piety. The hypocrite's hope shall perish. Job viii. 13. I dare swear he is no hypocrite, but prays from his heart. Shak.

Not pious; wanting piety; irreligious; irreverent; ungodly; profane; wanting in reverence for the Supreme Being; as, an impious deed; impious language. When vice prevails, and impious men bear away, The post of honor is a private station. Addison.

Want of devotion; impiety; irreligion. "An age of indevotion." Jer. Taylor.

Admixture; an additional ingredient. In this height of impiety there wanted not an intermixture of levity and folly. Bacon.

The state of being irreligious; want of religion; impiety.

A person of strict piety; one who lives in the exact observance of religious duties; -- sometimes so called in contempt or ridicule.

ts whether it were possible for a community to exist that had not a prevailing mixture of piety in its constitution. Addison.

s to lend money at a low rate of interest to poor people in need; -- called also mount of piety. The institution has been adopted in other countries, as in Spain and France. See Lombard-house.

expression of a guiding principle; a maxim. It was the motto of a bishop eminent for his piety and good works, ... "Serve God, and be cheerful." Addison.

A bank; a fund. Mount of piety. See Mont de piété.

Rigid observance of external forms of religion, without genuine piety; hypocrisy in religion; a censorious, self-righteous spirit in matters of morals or manners. "A piece of pharisaism." Hammond.

lass of religious reformers in Germany in the 17th century who sought to revive declining piety in the Protestant churches; -- often applied as a term of reproach to those who make a display of religious feeling. Also used adjectively.

Of or pertaining to piety; exhibiting piety; reverential; dutiful; religious; devout; godly. "Pious hearts." Milton. "Pious poetry." Johnson. Where was the martial brother's pious care Pope.

Piety. [Obs.] Wyclif.

ceremonies, or by the conduct of life; a system of faith and worship; a manifestation of piety; as, ethical religions; monotheistic religions; natural religion; revealed religion; the religion of the Jews; the religion of idol worshipers. An orderly life so far as others are able to observe us is now and then produced…

son bound by monastic vows, or sequestered from secular concern, and devoted to a life of piety and religion; a monk or friar; a nun. Addison.

To lay or place at rest; to quiet. Your piety has paid All needful rites, to rest my wandering shade. Dryden.

Disposed to clothe everything with roseate hues; hence, sentimental. "Rose-pink piety." C. Kingsley.

A person sanctified; a holy or godly person; one eminent for piety and virtue; any true Christian, as being redeemed and consecrated to God. Them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints. 1 Cor. i. 2.

To make efficient as the means of holiness; to render productive of holiness or piety. A means which his mercy hath sanctified so to me as to make me repent of that unjust act. Eikon Basilike.