Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Superstitious |
SuperstitiousAdjective1. Showing ignorance or the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance; "finally realized that the horror he felt was superstitious in origin". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "superstitious" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1350. (references) |
Etymology: Superstitious \Su`per*sti"tious\, adjective. [French superstitieux, Latin superstitiosus.]. (Websters 1913) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Credulity | Adjective: credulous, gullible; easily deceived; simple, green, soft, childish, silly, stupid; easily convinced; over-credulous, over confident, over trustful; infatuated, superstitious; confiding; (believing). |
Heterodoxy | Bigoted; (prejudiced), (obstinate); superstitious; (credulous); fanatical; idolatrous; visionary; (imaginative). |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Superstitious |
| English words defined with "superstitious": Cabalism, Christcross-row ♦ Death candle ♦ Evil eye ♦ for the most part, Foreholding ♦ superstitiously. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "superstitious": Horse-shoes ♦ Marriage Plates ♦ Public-house Signs. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "superstitious": Foreholding. (references) |
| Domain | Usage | |
Movie/TV Titles | The Superstitious Girl (1918) Superstitious Joe (1913) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
Books |
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Music |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
Abraham Lincoln | I am superstitious. I have scarcely known a party, preceding an election, to call in help from the neighboring states, but they lost the State. |
Blaise Pascal | It is superstitious to put one's hopes in formalities, but arrogant to refuse to submit to them. |
Robert Browning | Our interest's on the dangerous edge of things. The honest thief, the tender murderer, the superstitious atheist. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
Communist Manifesto | 1848 | By degrees they sink into the category of the reactionary conservative Socialists depicted above, differing from these only by more systematic pedantry, and by their fanatical and superstitious belief in the miraculous effects of their social science. (reference) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Title | Author | Quote |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | Madame de Genlis was superstitious and fond of Latin. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Civil Liberties | Vietnam | In 1999, however, the Management Council and clergy came to an agreement that changed part of the rite so that it would no longer be superstitious, but maintained enough "spiritual direction" to be acceptable to Cao Dai followers. (references) |
China | The "Routine Service Regulations" of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) state explicitly that servicemen "may not take part in religious or superstitious activities." Party and PLA military personnel were expelled for adhering to the Falun Gong movement. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Superstitious" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 99.47% of the time. "Superstitious" is used about 187 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 99.47% | 186 | 22,556 |
| Noun (proper) | 0.53% | 1 | 339,140 |
| Total | 100.00% | 187 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expressions using "superstitious": be superstitious ♦ superstitious magic ♦ superstitious notion ♦ superstitious person ♦ superstitious use. Additional references. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
superstitious | 37 |
belief superstitious | 22 |
lyrics superstitious | 4 |
superstitious tab | 3 |
stevie superstitious wonder | 3 |
saying superstitious | 2 |
lyrics stevie superstitious wonder | 2 |
mountain superstitious | 2 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "superstitious"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Albanian | paragjykues. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arabic | مؤمن بالخرافات, خرافي (fabled, fabulous, fictitious, legendary, mythical, mythological). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bulgarian | суеверен (unenlightened). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese | 迷信 (superstition, Superstitiousness). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Czech | povìrèivý. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish | overtroisk. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dutch | bijgelovig, býgelovig. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Esperanto | superstiĉa. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Farsi | موهوم پرست , موهوم (Superstition), خرافاتی . (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finnish | taikauskoinen. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French | superstitieux. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frisian | byleauwich. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German | abergläubisch. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greek | προληπτικόσ (deterrent, precautionary, preventive), δεισιδαίμων, δεισιδαίμονασ. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hebrew | ל"אמין באמו ות תפלות (be superstitious). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hungarian | babonás. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Italian | superstizioso. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Kanji | 迷信家 (superstitious person), 担ぎ屋 (blackmarket peddler, practical joker, superstitious person), 御幣担ぎ (superstition, superstitious person), '"'担ぐ (having done this, if it is done in this way, if this is done, if this is the case, if you do this, in this way, such, to be superstitious). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Katakana | かつぎや (blackmarket peddler, practical joker, superstitious person), "へいかつぎ (superstition, superstitious person), めいし"か (superstitious person), '"'かつぐ (to be superstitious). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manx | pishagagh (incantatory, magical, sorcerer), meechredjoilagh, faasechredjuagh. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Papiamen | supersticioso. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pig Latin | uperstitioussay supersticioso. (various references) superstiţios (eerie, eery). (various references) суеверный. (various references) sujeveran. (various references) supersticioso. (various references) vidskeplig, skrockful. (various references) batil, batıl inançları olan, batıl inançla ilgili. (various references) марновірний, забобонний. (various references) mê tín. (various references) ofergoelus, coelgrefyddol. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | superstitiosiores. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Language | Date | Source | Acts Chapter 17, Verse 22 |
| Greek (transliterated) | 250 BC | Septuagint | StaqeiV de o pauloV en mesw tou areiou pagou efh andreV aqhnaioi kata panta wV deisidaimonesterouV umaV qewrw |
| Latin | 405 | Vulgate | Stans autem Paulus in medio Ariopagi ait viri athenienses per omnia quasi superstitiosiores vos video |
| Middle English | 1395 | Wyclif | And Poul stood in the myddil of Ariopage, and seide, Men of Athenys, bi alle thingis Y se you as veyn worschipers. |
| Renaissance English | 1526 | Tyndale | Paul stode in the myddes of Marse strete and sayde: ye men of Attens I perceave that in all thinges ye are to supersticious. |
| Jacobean English | 1611 | King James | Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. |
| Victorian English | 1833 | Webster | Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars-hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. |
| Basic English | 1964 | Ogden | And Paul got to his feet on Mars' Hill and said, O men of Athens, I see that you are overmuch given to fear of the gods. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Acts Chapter 17, Verse 22 |
| Albanian | Atëherë Pali, duke qëndruar në këmbë në mes të Areopagut, tha: ''O burra athinas, unë shoh se në të gjitha gjërat ju jeni shumë fetarë''. |
| Cebuano | ¶ Ug si Pablo mitindog sa taliwala sa Areopago ug miingon, "Mga taga-Atenas, nasabut ko nga sa tanang paagi kamo mga masimbahon gayud. |
| Chinese | 保 羅 站 在 亞 略 巴 古 當 中 、 說 、 眾 位 雅 典 人 " 、 我 看 們 凡 事 很 敬 畏 鬼 神 。 |
| Croatian | Tada Pavao stade posred Areopaga i reèe: "Atenjani! U svemu ste, vidim, nekako veoma bogoljubni. |
| Danish | Men Paulus stod frem midt på Areopagus og sagde: ""I athemiensiske Mænd! jeg ser, at I i alle Måder ere omhyggelige for eders Gudsdyrkelse. |
| Dutch | En Paulus, staande in het midden van de plaats, genaamd Areopagus, zeide: Gij mannen van Athene! ik bemerke, dat gij alleszins gelijk als godsdienstiger zijt. |
| Finnish | Niin Paavali astui keskelle Areiopagia ja sanoi: "Ateenan miehet, minä näen kaikesta, että te suuresti kunnioitatte jumalia. |
| French | Paul, debout au milieu de l`Aréopage, dit: Hommes Athéniens, je vous trouve tous égards extrêmement religieux. |
| German | Paulus aber stand mitten auf dem Gerichtsplatz und sprach: Ihr Männer von Athen, ich sehe, daß ihr in allen Stücken gar sehr die Götter fürchtet. |
| Hungarian | Elõállván pedig Pál az Areopágusnak közepette, monda: Athéni férfiak, minden tekintetben nagyon istenfélõknek látlak titeket. |
| Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hari | Pada waktu Paulus berdiri di depan orang-orang yang berkumpul di Areopagus itu, Paulus berkata, "Hai orang-orang Atena! Saya melihat bahwa dalam segala hal kalian sangat beragama. |
| Indonesian-Terjemahan Lama | Maka berdirilah Paulus di tengah-tengah Areopagus itu, serta berkata, "Hai orang Atina, menurut sekalian yang tampak kepadaku, kamu teramatlah sangat mengindahkan agama. |
| Latvian | Tad Pâvils, stâvçdams areopaga vidû, sacîja: Atçnieði, es redzu jûs visâs lietâs pârâk reliìiozus! |
| Maori | ¶ Na ka tu a Paora i waenganui o Areopaka, ka mea, E nga tangata o Atene, i nga mea katoa ka kite ahau he ahua nui ke to koutou wehi ki nga atua maori. |
| Norwegian | Så stod da Paulus frem midt på Areopagus og sa: Atenske menn! I alle måter ser jeg at I er ivrige i eders gudsfrykt. |
| Rumanian | Pavel a stat kn picioare kn mijlocul Areopagului, wi a zis: ,,Bqrbayi Atenieni! Kn toate privinyele vq gqsesc foarte religiowi. |
| Shuar | ¶ Nuyanka Papru Ariupakunam ajapén wajaki Tímiayi "Atenasnumia aishmantiram, wi nékajai, atumsha atumi yusri ainia Nuyá tsurakchamniaitrume, Tímiayi. |
| Swahili | Basi, Paulo alisimama mbele ya baraza la Areopago, akasema, "Wananchi wa Athene! Ninaona kwamba ninyi, kwa vyovyote, ni watu wa dini sana. |
| Swedish | Då trädde Paulus fram mitt på Areopagen och sade: "Atenare, jag ser av allting att I ären mycket ivriga gudsdyrkare. |
| Uma | ¶ Ngkai ree, pokore-nami Paulus hi laintongo' -ra to morumpu hi Bulu' Areopagus toe, pai' na'uli': "Pue' ngata Atena! Kuhilo hi rala butu nyala pogau' -ni, mo'agama mpu'u-koi. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "superstitious": superstitiously. (additional references) | |
| |
"Superstitious" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: supersticious, superstitiuos, superstiyious, superstotious, supertitious. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "superstitious" (pronounced suw'persti"shus) |
| 5 | -t i" sh u s | factitious, fictitious, repetitious, surreptitious. |
| 4 | -i" sh u s | ambitious, auspicious, capricious, delicious, expeditious, inauspicious, injudicious, judicious, malicious, nutritious, pernicious, propitious, seditious, suspicious, vicious. |
| 3 | -sh u s | anxious, atrocious, audacious, capacious, cautious, conscientious, conscious, contentious, efficacious, facetious, fallacious, ferocious, flirtatious, fractious, gracious, hellacious, herbaceous, infectious, loquacious, luscious, nauseous, noxious, obnoxious, ostentatious, overambitious, precious, precocious, predaceous, pretentious, pugnacious, rambunctious, rapacious, salacious, sebaceous, semiprecious, spacious, specious, subconscious, tenacious, tendentious, unconscious, unpretentious, vexatious, vivacious, voracious. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "e-i-i-o-p-r-s-s-s-t-t-u-u" | |
-3 letters: proustites, spirituous. | |
-4 letters: outpities, outstrips, pertussis, prissiest, proustite, spiritous, sportiest, stripiest. | |
-5 letters: osteitis, outpress, outserts, outstrip, persists, pietists, pissoirs, postures, poussies, poutiest, prissies, prosiest, prossies, prosties, protests, protists, purities, pursiest, pursuits, pussiest, puttiers, reposits, ripostes, roupiest, rustiest, soupiest, sourpuss, spiriest, spitters, spotters, spottier, spouters, spurious, sputters, stipites, surtouts, suspires, tipsiest, tipsters, tourists, triposes. | |
| Words containing the letters "e-i-i-o-p-r-s-s-s-t-t-u-u" | |
+2 letters: superstitiously. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Crosswords 3. Usage: Modern 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Quotations: Familiar 6. Quotations: Historic 7. Quotations: Fiction 8. Quotations: Non-fiction | 9. Usage Frequency 10. Expressions 11. Expressions: Internet 12. Translations: Modern | 13. Translations: Ancient 14. Bible Trace 15. Derivations 16. Rhymes | 17. Anagrams 18. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
