Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Pious

Pious , adjective

[Latin pius: compare French pieux.]

1.
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
2.
Practiced under the pretext of religion; prompted by mistaken piety; as, pious errors; pious frauds.