Talk:piety

Request for verification
I just checked 4. out in the Merriam-Webster, I can check the Oxford if you want. However, this definition is not listed in the M-W, nor is it consistent with the other definitions. I think it should be removed. --174.20.32.182 01:49, 11 November 2009 (UTC)
 * It will remain for at least 30 days to give folks a chance to attest to its usage in that sense. It is quite likely that the word will be found associated with hypocritical behavior. Contributors often interpret such usage as showing that a word has assumed parts of the meaning of the associated behavior. But such usage is not sufficient. Usage supporting the sense would need to show that "piety" by itself, without any modifiers, had the meaning. This is a recurring issue with respect to many words associated with traditional values. Those who dislike those values and live in a subculture of the like-minded come to assume that their negative assessments are part of the meaning of the terms themselves. I am not sure that such a change happens very often. A possible example is lord, which has mostly negative meaning in its verb sense, though not in any of the noun senses. DCDuring TALK 18:32, 11 November 2009 (UTC)

RFV failed, sense removed. (BTW, it's not in the OED Online, either.) —Ruakh TALK 01:33, 13 April 2010 (UTC)

Usage example should be changed or removed.
Usage example for the first definition of piety meaning reverence and devotion to God - "Connie's intense piety made her brother and her friends view her as robotic and submissive." - seems highly inappropriate and combative. Note I am not making any judgement as to the grammatical correctness of the usage example, only the topic selected to display usage.

It feels as if the author went with the first usage that came to mind and felt it was good enough, but I believe a better usage example can give all visitors the definition they seek without running the risk of insulting/offending a portion of them.

I figured I'd comment in the talk page before changing it to see if others agree/disagree. If you agree and have a better usage then feel free to replace the existing one, if you disagree then please post why. Ill check back in a few days, if no one responds ill think of something and change it.

70.23.253.207 03:06, 11 August 2010 (UTC)


 * I agree, and have rewritten it. Thanks! —Ruakh TALK 03:30, 11 August 2010 (UTC)