Devotionalism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A cultural stance that promotes intense personal dedication to spiritual practices and emphasizes the importance of religious rituals and beliefs
2. The quality or state of being deeply dedicated to religious worship and rituals
3. A committed focus on spiritual exercises and reverence within a faith tradition

Etymology: "Devotionalism" is a plain English compound: "devotional" with the suffix "-ism" added to it. "Devotional" comes from "devotion," which descends from Latin "devotio," a vowing or dedication, from "devovere," to vow or consecrate. The suffix "-ism" comes from Greek "-ismos," used to form nouns of practice, doctrine, or state of being, and in English it attaches readily to adjectives and nouns to name a system, a practice, or a characteristic habit of mind. So the noun names the quality or practice of devotional feeling carried to an intense degree. Its meaning rests on the older sense of "devotion" as total commitment, which is why the word can describe fervent religious zeal rather than just routine prayer. The formation is transparent, and it follows the same pattern as older English words built the same way, such as "Pietism" and "Quietism," which name movements rather than single acts of worship.

Synonyms: piety, devotion, religious fervor, worship, spirituality