Lewis & Short

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1. pĭĕtas, ātis, f. [pius], dutiful conduct towards the gods, one’s parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc., sense of duty.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. With respect to the gods, piety: est enim pietas justitia adversus deos, Cic. N. D. 1, 41, 115; 1, 2, 3; cf.: aequitas tripartita dicitur esse; una ad superos deos, altera ad manes, tertia ad homines pertinere. Prima pietas, secunda sanctitas, tertia justitia aut aequitas nominatur, id. Top. 23, 90: pietas adversus deos, id. Fin. 3, 22, 73: deos placatos pietas efficiet et sanctitas, id. Off. 2, 3, 11; id. Rep. 1, 2, 2: senex fretus pietate deum, Naev. B. Punic. 3, 1; Enn. ap. Non. 160, 2 (Trag. v. 369 Vahl.): nec pietas ulla est, velatum saepe videri Vortier ad lapidem atque omnes accedere ad aras, etc., that is not piety, to incline with veiled head to the marble, etc., Lucr. 5, 1198.
      1. 2. Conscientiousness, scrupulousness, Ov. F. 6, 607.
        So of love and duty towards God (eccl. Lat.; freq.), Vulg. 2 Macc. 3, 1; id. 2 Pet. 1, 6.
        Plur., Vulg. 2 Pet. 3, 11.
    2. B. With respect to one’s parents, children, relatives, country, benefactors, etc., duty, dutifulness, affection, love, loyalty, patriotism, gratitude, etc.: Pa. Salve, mi pater insperate. Tr. Volup est, quom istuc ex pietate vestrā nobis contigit, Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 132: patrem tuom si percoles per pietatem, dutifully, id. Trin. 2, 2, 3: justitia erga deos religio, erga parentes pietas nominatur, Cic. Part. 22, 78: quid est pietas, nisi voluntas grata in parentes? id. Planc. 33, 80: justitiam cole et pietatem, quae cum sit magna in parentibus et propinquis, tum in patriā maxima est, id. Rep. 6, 15, 15; cf.: pietas, quae erga patriam aut parentes, aut alios sanguine conjunctos officium conservare monet, id. Inv. 2, 22, 65; id. Rosc. Am. 13, 37: pietas in matrem, id. Lael. 3, 11; id. Att. 13, 39: mi mater, tua pietas plane nobis auxilio fuit, Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 122; cf. v. 99: felix nati pietate, Verg. A. 3, 480: solemnia pietatis, the last offices, Tac. Agr. 7: egregium narras mirā pietate parentem, Cat. 66, 29: pietas erga aliquem, Cic. Fam. 1, 1, 1: in aliquem, id. ib. 1, 9, 1: hic tui omnes valent summāque pietate te desiderant, id. ib. 6, 20, 2: nec publicae pietatis intererat, quid vocarere, to the affection of the citizens, Plin. Pan. 21, 3: militiae, Luc. 4, 499.
      Towards a husband (rare): neque id (officium nostrum) magis facimus quam nos monet pietas, Plaut. Stich. 1, 1, 6; cf.: scelus est pietas in conjuge Tereo, Ov. M. 6, 635.
      The formula PIETATIS CAVSA or EX PIETATE (opp. EX TESTAMENTO), in epitaphs, denotes that the heir raised the monument to the deceased, not because compelled by the latter’s last will, but out of affection and respect, Inscr. Orell. 4692; Inscr. Fabr. p. 710, n. 314.
  2. II. Transf., in gen. (mostly poet. and in postAug. prose).
    1. A. Justice: at tibi … pro talibus ausis Di, si qua est caelo pietas, quae talia curet, Persolvant grates dignas, etc., Verg. A. 2, 536; cf. Sil. 6, 410; so Verg. A. 5, 688: summa deum pietas, Stat. S. 3, 3, 1; cf. Liv. 4, 42.
    2. B. Gentleness, kindness, tenderness, pity, compassion: permittite Patres Conscripti a pietate vestrā impetrari, ut damnatis liberum mortis arbitrium indulgeatis, Suet. Dom. 11: senatus, Plin. Pan. 79, 4; Dig. 48, 9, 5.
      In addressing a person: mea pietas, my kind friend, Plaut. Bacch. 5, 2, 57.
  3. III. Pĭĕtas, personified, a goddess, Piety, who had two temples at Rome, Liv. 40, 34, 5; Cic. Leg. 2, 8, 19; 2, 11, 28; id. Div. 1, 43, 98; Plin. 7, 36, 36, § 121; Val. Max. 5, 4, 7; Fest. p. 209 Müll.; Inscr. Orell. 1824 sq.; 3291.

2. Pĭĕtas, ātis, f.,

  1. I. a Roman surname, Inscr. Marin. Atti, p. 329.
  2. II. Also, the name of a ship, Inscr. Orell. 3608.
  3. III. Pietas Julia, a Roman colony in Istria, the mod. Pola, Plin. 3, 19, 23, § 129.