Dictionary

godliness en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɡɒd.li.nəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɡɑd.li.nəs/ (General-American)
• (US) audio
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English godly Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English godliness From godly + -ness.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The condition and quality of being godly, pious, scrupulously observant of all the teachings of one's religion, practicing virtue and avoiding sin.
   • Bishops, Priests, and Deacons are not commanded by God's laws either to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage. Therefore it is lawful also for them, as for all other Christian men, to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness. 1562, The Thirty-Nine Articles, Point 32
   • But godlinesse with contentment is great gaine. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Timothy 6:6:
   • Nay, but he prated, And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms Against your honour That, with the little godliness I have, I did full hard forbear him. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

Forms

Deriveds

cleanliness is next to godliness

Relateds

deity

Synonyms

righteousness · angelicalness · honor · angelicalness · saintlikeness · rightfulness · virtuousness · angelicality · uprightness · saintliness · honesty · saintliness · probity · integrity · seemliness · saintlikeness · angelicity · virtuousness · decency · godliness · seemlihood · propriety · angelicness · rectitude

Translations (24)

pl pobożność (the condition and quality of being godly) · bg благочестивост (the condition and quality of being godly) · fi jumalaisuus (the condition and quality of being godly) · mk побожност (the condition and quality of being godly) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌲𐌿𐌳𐌴𐌹 (the condition and quality of being godly) · he אלוהות (the condition and quality of being godly) · ar تَقْوَى (the condition and quality of being godly) · ja 信心深さ (the condition and quality of being godly) · pt religiosidade (the condition and quality of being godly) · ru благоче́стие (the condition and quality of being godly) · mk набожност (the condition and quality of being godly) · it religiosità (the condition and quality of being godly) · fr piété (the condition and quality of being godly) · cmn 虔誠 /虔诚 (the condition and quality of being godly) · pl bogobojność (the condition and quality of being godly) · it devozione (the condition and quality of being godly) · ar وَرَع (the condition and quality of being godly) · fi jumalisuus (the condition and quality of being godly) · de Göttlichkeit (the condition and quality of being godly) · it pietas (the condition and quality of being godly) · hi देवत्व (the condition and quality of being godly) · fi jumalallisuus (the condition and quality of being godly) · ru на́божность (the condition and quality of being godly) · bg набожност (the condition and quality of being godly)