Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Superstitious \Su`per*sti"tious\, a. [F. superstitieux, L. superstitiosus.]
Of or pertaining to superstition; proceeding from, or manifesting, superstition; as, superstitious rites; superstitious observances.
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Evincing superstition; overscrupulous and rigid in religious observances; addicted to superstition; full of idle fancies and scruples in regard to religion.
Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
--Acts xvii. 22. -
Overexact; scrupulous beyond need.
Superstitious use (Law), the use of a gift or bequest, as of land, etc., for the maintenance of the rites of a religion not tolerated by the law. [Eng.]
--Mozley & W. [1913 Webster] -- Su`per*sti"tious*ly, adv. -- Su`per*sti"tious*ness, n.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
late 14c., "involving faith in supernatural powers or magic; characteristic of pagan religion or false religion," from Anglo-French supersticius, Old French supersticios, or directly from Latin superstitiosus "prophetic; full of dread of the supernatural," from superstitio "prophecy, soothsaying, excessive fear of the gods" (see superstition).
Wiktionary
a. 1 Susceptible to superstitions. 2 Arising from or having the character of superstitions. 3 (context archaic English) overexact; unnecessarily scrupulous
WordNet
adj. showing ignorance or the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance; "finally realized that the horror he felt was superstitious in origin"
Wikipedia
"Superstitious" is a 1988 single released by the Swedish rock band Europe. It was the first single released from the album Out of This World. It charted at #31 in the Billboard Hot 100, #9 at the Mainstream Rock Tracks and #34 in the UK Singles Chart. It is the last Europe song to chart in the US.
The video for "Superstitious" was filmed at an old castle on Long Island, New York. When performing the song live on tour in 1990-92, Europe included a part of Bob Marley's " No Woman, No Cry" in the middle of the song.
Superstitious is a 1995 horror novel by author R.L. Stine. This was the first adult novel by Stine, most famous for writing children's fiction such as the Goosebumps series. This book deals with Sara Morgan, who falls in love with Liam O’Connor. It was published on September 14, 1995 by Grand Central Publishing in the United States.
R. L. Stine began writing this book after an agent offered him a one million dollar advance. It took him four months to write.
Usage examples of "superstitious".
The Germans have an almost superstitious belief in the medicinal virtues of Aniseed, and all their ordinary household bread is plentifully flavoured with the whole seeds.
We watched it with very different emotions, Kilooa with superstitious reverence, Briery with scientific interest and intense disappointment, I with a heart full of wonder and gratitude.
For a moment a pang of superstitious fear shot through Masson, and then rage replaced it as he realised the significance of the sound.
Bonaventura, Blessed Albert, Peter a Palude, and many others, that in no case must evil be done that good may result, and that a man ought rather to die than consent to be cured by superstitious and vain means.
Though Partridge was one of the most superstitious of men, he would hardly perhaps have desired to accompany Jones on his expedition merely from the omens of the joint-stool and white mare, if his prospect had been no better than to have shared the plunder gained in the field of battle.
She walked the deck with briskness, and a pertinacity that awakened admiration in the crew at first, but by and by superstitious awe.
Superstitious people are fond of the reliques of saints and holy men, for the same reason, that they seek after types or images, in order to enliven their devotion, and give them a more intimate and strong conception of those exemplary lives, which they desire to imitate.
The purport of his request was, that Henry, besides repressing superstitious ceremonies, should be extremely vigilant in preventing fornication and common swearing.
Whether this refusal results from absorption in other employment or from some superstitious belief, it is a violation of the will of our Maker, and the consequent suffering and dissolution are the retributive hell or reflex signals, painfully pointing out our duty.
Of superstitious priests, storytelling shanachies, and pole-vaulting messengers.
No wonder that my Lord Steyne, who liked pleasure and cheerfulness, was not often seen after their marriage by the side of this trembling, silent, superstitious, unhappy lady.
The violence of personal or superstitious animosity might sometimes prevail over the most natural apprehensions of disgrace and danger but it cannot surely be imagined, that accusations of so unpromising an appearance were either lightly or frequently undertaken by the Pagan subjects of the Roman empire.
Legree, who had that superstitious horror of insane persons which is common to coarse and uninstructed minds.
And as for putting her ashore, he had an instinct, and surely not a superstitious one, that her strange affection for the English was not unsent by Heaven, and that God had committed her into his charge, and that He would require an account at his hands of the soul of that fair lost lamb.
These are the wittols, treated with a mixture of repugnance, contempt and superstitious awe.