Impiously

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. In a manner showing disrespect or contempt toward something sacred or deserving reverence
2. in a way that shows irreverence or disrespect toward what is holy, sacred, or worthy of reverence
3. with deliberate disregard for religious values or sacred principles that demand respect

Etymology: Impiously is simply impious with the adverbial ending -ly, and the root is older than English itself. Impious comes from Latin "impius," where "im-" means "not" and "pius" means dutiful, devout, or respectful toward the gods and family. Latin "pius" traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root that is also behind the idea of loyalty and piety, so the word's core has always been about failing in one's proper duty toward what deserves respect. The adverb is the simplest part of the story. English "-ly" descends from an Old English suffix "-līċe," which itself grew out of the Germanic word for "body" or "form," so an adjective plus "-ly" originally meant something like "in the form of" that adjective. Over the Middle English period, the ending wore down to "-ly" and became a standard way to turn adjectives into adverbs. Adding it to "impious" produced a word describing an action done in a manner lacking reverence.

Synonyms: irreverently, sacrilegiously

Antonyms: reverently, respectfully