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  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Impious  \Im"pi*ous\,  a.  [L.  impius;  pref.  im-  not  +  pius  piou. 
  See  {Pious}.] 
  Not  pious;  wanting  piety;  irreligious;  irreverent;  ungodly; 
  profane;  wanting  in  reverence  for  the  Supreme  Being  as  an 
  impious  deed;  impious  language. 
 
  When  vice  prevails,  and  impious  men  bear  away  The  post 
  of  honor  is  a  private  station.  --Addison. 
 
  Syn:  {Impious},  {Irreligious},  {Profane}. 
 
  Usage:  Irreligious  is  negative,  impious  and  profane  are 
  positive.  An  indifferent  man  may  be  irreligious;  a 
  profane  man  is  irreverent  in  speech  and  conduct;  an 
  impious  man  is  wickedly  and  boldly  defiant  in  the 
  strongest  sense  Profane  also  has  the  milder  sense  of 
  secular.  --C.  J.  Smith.  --  {Im"pi*ous*ly},  adv  -- 
  {Im"pi*ous*ness},  n. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  impiousness 
  n  :  unrighteousness  by  virtue  of  lacking  respect  for  a  god  [syn: 
  {impiety}]  [ant:  {piety}] 

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