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sŭperstĭtĭo , ōnis, f. super-sto; orig a standing still over or by a thing; hence, amazement, wonder, dread, esp. of the divine or supernatural.
I. Excessive fear of the goas, unreasonable religious belief, superstition (different from religio, a proper, reasonable awe of the gods; cf.: “religio veri dei cultus est, superstitio falsi,Lact. 4, 28, 11): “horum sententiae omnium non modo superstitionem tollunt, in quā inest timor inanis deorum, sed etiam religionem, quae deorum cultu pio continetur,Cic. N. D. 1, 42, 117: “majores nostri superstitionem a religione separaverunt,id. ib. 2, 28, 71; cf.: “contaminata superstitio,id. Clu. 68, 194: “nec vero superstitione tollendā religio tollitur,id. Div. 2, 72, 148: “superstitio error insanus est,Sen. Ep. 123, 16: “superstitiones aniles,Cic. N. D. 2, 28, 70: “sagarum superstitio,id. Div. 2, 63, 129: “tristis,Hor. S. 2, 3, 79: “vana,Sil. 5, 125: “magicas superstitiones objectabat,Tac. A. 12, 59: “exitialis,id. ib. 15, 44: “quam multi, qui contemnant (somnia) eamque superstitionem imbecilli animi atque anilis putent!Cic. Div. 2, 60, 125: “barbara superstitio,id. Fl. 28, 67; id. Div. 1, 4, 7: “quā (superstitione) qui est imbutus,id. Fin. 1, 18, 60; Quint. 3, 1, 22: “victi superstitione animi,Liv. 7, 2, 3: “captus quādam superstitione animus,id. 26, 19, 4: “magna superstitio natalis amicae,Ov. A. A. 1, 417: “quod novas superstitiones introduceret,Quint. 4, 4, 5: “superstitio est timor superfluus et delirus,Serv. Verg. A. 8, 187: “superstitionem mihi excute,Sen. Ep. 121, 4.—
2. Transf., in gen.: “superstitio praeceptorum,an excessive regard, scrupulous observance, Quint. 4, 2, 85.—*
B. Objectively, an object that inspires dread: adjuro Stygii caput implacabile fontis, Una superstitio superis quae reddita divis, Verg A. 12, 817.—
II. In post-Aug. prose sometimes for religio, religious awe, sanctity; a religious rite: “hujus (virtutis) quādam superstitione teneantur, hanc ament,Sen. Ep. 95, 35: “templi,Just. 39, 3, 9: “superstitiones atque cura deorum,id. 41, 3, 6.
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