pious Copy link Outline 1. pĭus, comp. magis and maxime pius (dutiful to parents; hence, to the gods, as standing in like relation to men)2. sanctus (of pure and spotless life) • pious: 1. pĭus, comp. magis and maxime pius (dutiful to parents; hence, to the gods, as standing in like relation to men): the superl. piissimus was used by M. Antonius, Cic. Ph. 13, 19, 43; and (though declared not to be Latin by Cic. l. c.) is freq. in later writers in sense of most dutiful and affectionate: to distinguish between the p. and impious, p. et impiorum rationem habere, Cic. Leg. 2, 7, 15. 2. sanctus (of pure and spotless life): cf. Cic. Verr. 5, 19, 49, vir in publicis religionibus foederum, sanctus et diligens (most conscientious). Phr.: an eminently p. man, religionum diligentissimus cultor, Liv. 5, 50, init.; praecipuâ (singulari) religionis conservandae curâ, cf. Val. Max. 1, 1, 12: insignis pietate vir, Virg. Aen. 1, 10. See also religious, conscientious, upright.