Lewis & Short

Parsing inflected forms may not always work as expected. If the following does not give the correct word, try Latin Words or Perseus.

pĭus (written PIIVS, Inscr. Viscont. Monum. Degli Scip. tab. 6, n. 1; cf. Cic. Quint. 1, 4, 11), a, um (voc. pie:

  1. I. o crucifer bone, lucisator Omnipotens pie, Prud. Cath. 3, 1.
    Comp. only magis pius; cf. Charis. pp. 88 and 130 P.
    Sup.: piissimus, used by Antonius, and condemned by Cicero, as: verbum omnino nullum in linguā Latinā, Cic. Phil. 13, 19, 43; but freq. in the post-Aug. per., e. g. Sen. Contr. 4, 27 med.; id. Consol. ad Polyb. 26 med.; Tac. Agr. 43; Curt. 9, 6, 17; Flor. 4, 7, 15; Inscr. Orell. 418 et saep. From rare form PIENS, found in inscriptions, Murat. 1624, 4; Mus. Ver. 129, 3 Maff., is derived another form of the sup., PIENTISSIMVS, Inscr. Orell. 200; 203; 3592), adj. [etym. dub.; often referred to τίω, τιμάω], that acts according to duty, dutiful; esp. that performs what is due to the gods and religion in general, to parrents, kindred, teachers, country; pious, devout, conscientious, affectionate, tender, kind, good, grateful, respectful, loyal, patriotic, etc. (of persons and things): si quis pius est, Plaut. Rud. prol. 26: uxor pia et pudica, id. Am. 5, 1, 33: Capus … pium ex se Anchisen generat, Enn. ap. Philarg. ad Verg. G. 3, 35 (Ann. v. 31 Vahl.): (deos) piorum et impiorum habere rationem, Cic. Leg. 2, 7, 15; id. Rep. 6, 15, 15: di meliora piis, Verg. G. 3, 513: poëta, Cat. 16, 5: pii vates. Verg. A. 6, 662; cf.: pio vatis ab ore, Ov. F. 3, 326.
    So as subst. freq. pĭi, of the departed, the blessed: piorum sedes, Cic. Phil. 14, 12: arva piorum, Ov. M. 11, 62: cf. Bentley on Hor. C. 3, 4, 6.
    Of things having reference to religion: far, Hor. C. 3, 23, 20: tura, Ov. H. 7, 24; 21, 7: luci, sacred, holy, Hor. C. 3, 4, 6: pia et aeterna pax, a conscientiously kept and eternal peace, Cic. Balb. 16, 35: Poeni homines immolare pium esse duxerunt, id. Rep. 3, 9; cf. Ov. Tr. 1, 2, 96: ore pio, id. M. 7, 172; so, quosque pium est adhibere deos, id. F. 4, 829.
    As subst.: pĭum, i, n.: stabit pro signis jusque piumque tuis, justice and equity, Ov. A. A. 1, 200; id. H. 8, 4.
    Of respectful, affectionate conduct towards parents, etc.: pius in parentes, Cic. Off. 3, 23, 90: pius Aeneas, on account of his filial love for Anchises, Verg. A. 1, 220; 305; 378; 4, 393; 5, 26 et saep.; cf.: seniorque parens, pia sarcina nati, Ov. H. 7, 107; id. M. 7, 482: pius dolor, Cic. Sest. 2: impietate pia est, she is affectionate (towards her brothers) through want of affection (for her son), her sisterly triumphed over her maternal love, Ov. M. 8, 477: quo pius affectu Castora frater amat, id. Tr. 4, 5, 30: metus, of a wife for her husband, id. M. 11, 389: bellum, waged for one’s country or allies, Liv. 30, 31; 39, 36; Sil. 15, 162.
  2. II. Transf., in gen.
    1. A. Honest, upright, honorable (very rare): pius quaestus, Cato, R. R. praef.
    2. B. Benevolent, kind, gentle, gracious (postAug.): clementia patrem tuum in primis Pii nomine ornavit, M. Aurel. ap. Vulcat. Gallic. in Avid. Cass. 11: pius enim et clemens es, Dominus Deus, Vulg. 2 Par. 30, 9; id. Ecclus. 2, 13.
      Pĭus, a title of the emperors after M. Antoninus, on coins and inscrr.; v. Eckh. D. N. 7, p. 36; 8, p. 453; Inscr. Orell. 840 sq.
      Poet., of a wine-jar: testa, my kindly jar, = benigna, Hor. C. 3, 21, 4.
      Hence, adv.: pĭē, piously, religiously, dutifully, affectionately: pie sancteque colere deos, Cic. N. D. 1, 20, 56; 1, 17, 45; id. Att. 6, 7, 1: memoriam nostri pie inviolateque servabitis, id. Sen. 22, 81: metuo ne scelerate dicam in te, quod pro Milone dicam pie, id. Mil. 38, 103: pie lugere, id. de Or. 2, 40, 167; Ov. H. 15, 153.
      Sup.: quod utrumque piissime tulit, Sen. Cons. ad Polyb. 34, 4.