religion
- religion
religion (
n.)
c.1200, "
state of life bound by monastic vows," also "
conduct indicating a belief in a divine power," from
Anglo-Fr. religiun (11c.), from
O.Fr. religion "
religious community," from
L. religionem (
nom. religio) "
respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods," in
L.L. "
monastic life" (5c.); according to Cicero, derived from
relegere "
go through again, read again," from
re- "
again" +
legere "
read" (see
LECTURE (
Cf. lecture) (
n.)). However, popular etymology among the later ancients (and many modern writers) connects it with
religare "
to bind fast" (see
RELY (
Cf. rely)), via notion of "
place an obligation on," or "
bond between humans and gods." Another possible origin is
religiens "
careful," opposite of
negligens.
To hold, therefore, that there is no difference in matters of religion between forms that are unlike each other, and even contrary to each other, most clearly leads in the end to the rejection of all religion in both theory and practice. And this is the same thing as atheism, however it may differ from it in name. [Pope Leo XIII, Immortale Dei, 1885]
Meaning "particular system of faith" is recorded from c.1300. Modern sense of "recognition of, obedience to, and worship of a higher, unseen power" is from 1530s.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
Synonyms:
Look at other dictionaries:
Religion — religion … Dictionary of sociology
RELIGION — L’ÉTYMOLOGIE du terme religion reste incertaine; elle est controversée depuis l’Antiquité. À la suite de Lactance, de Tertullien, les auteurs chrétiens se plaisent à expliquer le latin religio par les verbes ligare, religare , lier, relier. La… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Religion — • The voluntary subjection of oneself to God Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Religion Religion † … Catholic encyclopedia
religion — RELIGION. s. f. Culte qu on rend à la Divinité, suivant la creance que l on en a. La Religion Juifve. la Religion Chrestienne. la bonne, la fausse Religion. la Religion de Mahomet. professer une Religion. faire profession d une Religion. faire… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
Religion — Re*li gion (r[ e]*l[i^]j [u^]n), n. [F., from L. religio; cf. religens pious, revering the gods, Gr. ale gein to heed, have a care. Cf. {Neglect}.] 1. The outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of the existence of a god or of … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
religión — sustantivo femenino 1. Área: religión Conjunto de creencias y prácticas que ponen en relación al hombre con la divinidad. religión budista. religión católica. religión cristiana. religión judía. religión monoteísta. religión musulmana. religión… … Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española
Religion — Sf std. (16. Jh.) Entlehnung. Im Frühneuhochdeutschen entlehnt aus l. religio ( ōnis) (auch: gewissenhafte Berücksichtigung, Sorgfalt ), zu l. relegere bedenken, achtgeben . Gemeint ist ursprünglich die gewissenhafte Sorgfalt in der Beachtung von … Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache
religion — religion, denomination, sect, cult, communion, faith, creed, persuasion, church can all denote a system of religious belief and worship or the body of persons who accept such a system. Religion, the usual uncolored term, may apply to a system (as … New Dictionary of Synonyms
religion — Religion, Profession de religion, Hierodulia, B. Faire profession de religion, In manum conuenire antistitis, In mancipio antistitis esse coepisse, B. Diverses religions, Aliae atque aliae religiones. Estimant que c estoit contre la religion et… … Thresor de la langue françoyse
religión — (Del lat. religĭo, ōnis). 1. f. Conjunto de creencias o dogmas acerca de la divinidad, de sentimientos de veneración y temor hacia ella, de normas morales para la conducta individual y social y de prácticas rituales, principalmente la oración y… … Diccionario de la lengua española
religion — [ri lij′ən] n. [ME religioun < OFr or L: OFr religion < L religio, reverence for the gods, holiness, in LL(Ec), a system of religious belief < ? religare, to bind back < re , back + ligare, to bind, bind together; or < ? re + IE… … English World dictionary