Superstition
[,suːpə'stɪʃ(ə)n;,sjuː-] or [,supɚ'stɪʃən]
Definition
(noun.) an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear.
Checker: Raffles--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) An excessive reverence for, or fear of, that which is unknown or mysterious.
(n.) An ignorant or irrational worship of the Supreme Deity; excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; also, a rite or practice proceeding from excess of sculptures in religion.
(n.) The worship of a false god or gods; false religion; religious veneration for objects.
(n.) Belief in the direct agency of superior powers in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in magic, omens, prognostics, or the like.
(n.) Excessive nicety; scrupulous exactness.
Typed by Dewey
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. False religion, worship of false gods, irrational worship.[2]. Belief in omens.
Checked by Harlan
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Bigotry, fanaticism
ANT:Infidelity, skepticism, disbelief, rationalism, religion, devotion, worship,reason
Typed by Blanche
Definition
n. excessive reverence or fear based on ignorance: excessive exactness in religious opinions or practice: false worship or religion: an ignorant and irrational belief in supernatural agency omens divination sorcery &c.: belief in what is absurd without evidence: rites or practices proceeding from superstitious belief or fear: over-nicety exactness too scrupulous or morbid.—adj. Supersti′tious pertaining to or proceeding from superstition: over-exact.—adv. Supersti′tiously.—n. Supersti′tiousness.
Inputed by Angela
Examples
- A vague, very simple Christianity pervaded the illiterate peasant life, mixed with much superstition. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Whatever women may be, I thought that men, in the nineteenth century, were above superstition. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- My dear Jarndyce, returned Mr. Skimpole, I will do anything to give you pleasure, but it seems an idle form--a superstition. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- A plot organised among the Indians who originally owned the jewel, says Mr. Franklin-- a plot with some old Hindoo superstition at the bottom of it. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Down superstition! Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- But do you not by every means encourage the superstition among those of the outside world? Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- Had I gone to him, he would have shown me all that was tender, and comforting, and gentle, in the honest Popish superstition. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- He accused the Greeks of superstition: what name did he give to the faith he lent to the predictions of Evadne? Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- If you saw a nymph you would go mad, remarked Maurice, alluding to the old Greek superstition. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- I then told him that I would cut my right arm off first, and mentioned this superstition. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- I do not ever remember to have trembled at a tale of superstition, or to have feared the apparition of a spirit. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- It is such a conventional superstition, such parrot gabble! Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- It would be mere blind, besotted superstition. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- They became panicky and reverted to an ancient superstition. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- My old superstition clings to me, even yet. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- They had their undercurrent of fables and superstitions, their phases of fear and abjection and sacrificial fury. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- But both were, in those ignorant and superstitions times, easily credited as proofs of guilt. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- I thought her too intelligent to be the slave of such absurd superstitions. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- This is a kind of superstitious practice in civil laws, and in the laws of nature, resembling the Roman catholic superstitions in religion. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- There, I don't believe in old superstitions, but I'll do it. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- In spite of all experience they cling desperately to these superstitions. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Presently the dissensions of the schools let in the superstitions and prejudices of the city mob to scholastic affairs. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- If you want to impose a taboo upon a whole community, you must do it autocratically, you must make it part of the prevailing superstitions. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Every one has his superstitions. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- That is one of the great American superstitions. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- There was to be no clinging to tawdry superstitions. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- That is but one of the superstitions which Issus has foisted upon a credulous humanity. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
Typed by Kevin