a. 4–7 -icious, 5 -ycyus, 5–6 -ycious, 6 -icyous, -ycyous(e, -iciouse, -itiouse, Sc. -itius. [a. OF. superstitieux (= It. superstizioso, Sp., Pg. -icioso), ad. L. superstitiōsus, f. superstitio SUPERSTITION.]
1. Of the nature of, involving or characterized by superstition.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Frankl. T., 544. To maken hise Iapes and his wrecchednesse Of swich a supersticious cursednesse.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 20234. That … I may represse Thyn errours and thyn ffolye, Groundyd on Astrologye, Wych ne be nat vertuous, For they be superstycious.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 865. With rytes superstycyouse.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. 136. Shall we denie that it is a superstitious worshippyng, when men do throwe themselues downe before bread, to worship Christe therein?
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., I. ii. § 8. 68. In their Superstitious Belief, of Ghosts, Spirits, Dæmons, Devils, Fayries and Hob-goblins.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xiv. (1782), I. 508. Fear is commonly superstitious.
1866. Kingsley, Life & Lett. (1877), II. 241. The superstitious terror with which that meteor-shower would have been regarded in old times.
1874. Green, Short Hist., ix. § 1. 588. [To the Puritans] It was superstitious to keep Christmas, or to deck the house with holly and ivy.
transf. 1588. Kyd, Househ. Philos., Wks. (1901), 258. The Husband commeth not with those prophane and superstitious cleppings as the delicate and wanton Louer doth.
1791. Paine, Rights of Man (ed. 4), 104. To unhinge it from the superstitious authority of antiquity.
b. Superstitious uses (Law): see quot. 1827.
1596. Bacon, Max. & Use Com. Law, I. x. (1630), 52. The statute of Chantries that willeth all lands to be forfeited, giuen or imploied to a superstitious vse.
1602–3. in Coke, Reports (1604), IV. 106 b. Intant que le statute [viz. 1 Edw. VI., c. 14] per expres parols abrogate & tolle touts tiels supersticious vses queux fuerent dauer continuance a touts iours.
1715. Act 1 Geo. I., Stat. II. c. 50 (heading). To enquire of the Estates … of Popish Recusants, and of Estates given to superstitious Uses.
1790–1. Act 31 Geo. III., c. 32 § 17.
1827. Jarman, Powell’s Devises, II. 13. Superstitious uses … are declared … to be where lands, tenements, or goods, are given for the maintenance of persons to pray for the souls of dead men in purgatory, or to maintain perpetual obits, lamps, &c.
1848. Wharton, Law Lex., s.v. Charities, The history of the law of charities prior to the 43rd Eliz. c. 4, which is emphatically called the Statute of Charitable Uses, is extremely obscure…. It is clear that no superstitious uses are within the purview of the statute.
2. Subject or addicted to superstition; believing or practising superstitions.
1526. Tindale, Acts xvii. 22. Ye men of Attens, I perceave that in all thynges ye are somwhat [1534 to] supersticious.
1589. Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, III. xxii. (Arb.), 267. To abuse the superstitious people, and to encomber their busie braynes with vaine hope or vaine feare.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. iv. 36. The superstitious idle-headed-Eld Receiu’d … This tale of Herne the Hunter, for a truth.
1671. Milton, P. R., II. 296. It seem’d … to a Superstitious eye the haunt Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs.
1791. Burke, Lett. to Capt. Woodford, 11 Feb. I am extremely superstitious, and think his coming into it was of evil augury.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 88. Prone to the error, common in superstitious men, of mistaking his own peevish … moods for emotions of pious zeal.
1882. Emma R. Pitman, Mission Life in Greece & Pal., 251. The Maronite sect, which is a very ignorant and superstitious sect.
absol. (with the). 1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Superstition, The Punishment allotted by several Councils for the Superstitious, was to fast a Month in Prison.
1913. Nature, 14 Aug., 607/2. The omen of blood was viewed with some alarm by the superstitious in the village.
† b. Idolatrously or extravagantly devoted. Obs.
1582. Lyly, in T. Watson’s Poems (Arb.), 30. Were not men more supersticious in their praises, then women are constant in their passions.
1613. Shaks., Hen. VIII., III. i. 131. Haue I … Lou’d him next Heau’n? Obey’d him? Bin (out of fondnesse) superstitious to him?
a. 1704. T. Brown, Beauties, Wks. 1730, I. 42. My superstitious love adores them all.
† 3. Over-scrupulous; punctilious; extremely careful or particular. Obs.
1535. [see SUPERSTITIOUSLY 2].
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 10. Yf … anye supersticious head shall thinke it a heynous matter in any poynte to contrary Sainct Augustyne.
1590. Swinburne, Test., 5. It is rare if at the last; after long and superstitious reuolution, one man at least among so many subtile heads … doe not espie some defect or excesse in the definition.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 261. They [spiders] haue giuen themselues to curious and superstitious hunting,… watching and espying their prey.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 221. The Germans are so superstitious in this kind, as a Gentleman may haue an action against him, who saith hee is no Gentleman.
1648. J. Beaumont, Psyche, I. ccxxiii. Shall squeamish He my Pleasures harvest by Fond superstitious coyness thus prevent?
1680. Otway, Orphan, II. i. The superstitious Statesman has his sneer.
1816. [implied in SUPERSTITIOUSLY 2].
4. Used in or regarded with superstition; venerated, observed or believed in, in the way of superstition. Now rare or Obs.
1566. in Peacock, Engl. Ch. Furnit. (1866), 120. The mass bookes and all other popishe and supersticious bookes.
1595. in Maitl. Club Misc., I. 77. To absteyne fra keiping of superstitious dayes.
1599. B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., I. iv. Pulling downe a superstitious crosse.
c. 1618. Moryson, Itin., IV. V. i. (1903), 399. The sweating of stones, Nodding of Images, and like supperstitious Miracles.
1665. J. Webb, Stone-Heng (1725), 140. To cleanse away the Filth of the superstitious Victims [sc. sacrificed oxen].
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Superstitious-Pies, Minc’d, or Christmas-Pies, so Nicknam’d by the Puritans, or Precisians, tho’ they can Eat em.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 25 Dec. 1657. An ordinance made that none should any longer observe the superstitious time of the Nativity (so esteem’d by them).
1774. Pennant, Tour Scot. in 1772, 23. An … arch, decorated with a variety of superstitious figures.
1879. S. C. Bartlett, Egypt to Pal., xx. 436. The room … contained some superstitious spots.
† b. Magical; having or credited with supernatural efficacy. Obs.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 363. Þer was noon helpe … Þat vaille myȝt ageyn þe cursed charmys; Þei wer so strong and supersticious.
c. 1450. Mankind, 313, in Macro Plays, 12. To defende me from all superstycyus charmys.
1652. Hobbes, Leviathan, III. xxxvi. 225. All those Impostors, that pretend by the helpe of familiar spirits, or by superstitious divination of events past … to foretell the like events in time to come.
[1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Magic, Superstitious Magic consists in the Invocation of Devils.]
† 5. Extraordinary; excessive; superfluous. Obs.
c. 1407. Lydg., Reason & Sens., 4301. Eke Phedra lovede hyr sone yn lawe, Whos love was superstycious.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Alfonce, viii. There is folke superstycious or capaxe that they may not be contented with fewe wordes.
1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. 150. Certain sinister reports and superstitious slanders.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 301. They … have such a superstitious conceit of their owne merit and temper [etc.].
1640. Fuller, Joseph’s Coat, v. 143. Let us take heed wee bee not all condemned by God, for being Fellons, de se; for wilfull murthering our owne lives, with our knifes by our superstitious eating.
