Religion Explained

Etymology

From Middle English religioun,

from Old French religion,

from Latin religiō (“scrupulousness, pious misgivings, superstition, conscientiousness, sanctity, an object of veneration, cult-observance, reverence”).

Most likely from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂leg- with the meanings preserved in Latin dīligere and legere (“to read repeatedly”, “to have something solely in mind”).

Displaced Old English ǣfæstnes (“religion, lawfulness”).