Sū'per-sti'tion, n.

(-stish'un), n. [Lat. superstitio, originally a standing still over or by a thing; hence, amazement, wonder, dread, especially of the divine or supernatural, from superstare, to stand over, from super, over, and stare, to stand; Fr. superstition, Sp. supersticion, It. superstizione.]

1. Literally, a standing still over something amazing; hence, an excessive reverence or fear of that which is unknown or mysterious.
2. Especially, an ignorant or irrational worship of the Supreme Deity; excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance.
3. The worship of false gods; false religion; rite or practice proceeding from excess of scruples in religion; — in this sense, used also in the plural.
4. Belief in the direct agency of superior powers, in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in omens and prognostics.
5. Excessive nicety; scrupulous exactness.

Syn. — Fanaticism. — SUPERSTITION, FANATICISM. Superstition springs from the imagination in a dark and gloomy state. Fanaticism arises from this same faculty in a state of high-wrought and self-confident excitement. The former leads, in some cases, to excessive rigor in religious opinions or practice; in others, to unfounded belief in extraordinary events or in omens and prognostics, hence producing weak fears or excessive scrupulosity as to outward observances. The latter gives rise to an utter disregard of reason under the false assumption of enjoying a direct guidance from on high. Fanaticism has a secondary sense as applied to politics, &c., which corresponds to the primary. They the truth With superstitions and traditions taint. Milton. From hence weak and wicked men have taken the handle to ascribe all religion to fanaticism; that is, to a kind of frenzy or dotage. Waterland.