Religio

Look up religio#Latin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Dedication from Roman Britain announcing that a local official has restored a locus religiosus[1]

The Latin term religiō, the origin of the modern lexeme religion (via Old French/Middle Latin[2]), is of ultimately obscure etymology. It is recorded beginning in the 1st century BC, i.e. in Classical Latin at the end of the Roman Republic, notably by Cicero, in the sense of "scrupulous or strict observance of the traditional cultus". In classic antiquity, it meant conscientiousness, sense of right, moral obligation, or duty towards anything[3] and was used mostly in secular or mundane contexts.[4][5] In religious contexts, it also meant the feelings of "awe and anxiety" caused by gods and spirits that would help Romans "live successfully".[6]

  1. ^ CIL VII.45 = ILS 4920.
  2. ^ The medieval usage alternates with order in designating bonded communities like those of monastic orders: "we hear of the 'religion' of the Golden Fleece, of a knight 'of the religion of Avys'".Johan Huizinga, The Waning of the Middle Ages (1919) 1924:75.
  3. ^ "Religio". Latin Word Study Tool. Tufts University.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference 50 great was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference religio roman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Grant, Michael (2023-04-03). "Roman religion". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2023-05-12.