myEtymology.com: English etymology of religious

Etymology of the English word religious

the English word religious

derived from the Old French word religious

derived from the Church Latin word religiosus (pious, devout, religious; religious devotee; member of a religious order)

derived from the Classical Latin word religio (reverence, respect, awe; supernatural constraint, taboo; obligation)

derived from the Latin word religare (tie out of the way; bind fast; moor)

derived from the Late Latin word ligare (to bind; to tie; bind, tie, fasten)

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *leig-

using the Latin prefix re-

Word found in Modern English