superstition

su·per·sti·tion

 (so͞o′pər-stĭsh′ən)

n.

1. An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.

2.

a. A belief, practice, or rite irrationally maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith in magic or chance.

b. A fearful or abject state of mind resulting from such ignorance or irrationality.

c. Idolatry.

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[Middle English supersticion, from Old French superstition, from Latin superstitiō, superstitiōn-, from superstes, superstit-, standing over; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]

superstition

(ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃən)

n

1. (Alternative Belief Systems) irrational belief usually founded on ignorance or fear and characterized by obsessive reverence for omens, charms, etc

2. (Alternative Belief Systems) a notion, act or ritual that derives from such belief

3. (Alternative Belief Systems) any irrational belief, esp with regard to the unknown

[C15: from Latin superstitiō dread of the supernatural, from superstāre to stand still by something (as in amazement)]

su•per•sti•tion

(ˌsu pərˈstɪʃ ən)

n.

1. an irrational belief in or notion of the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, occurrence, etc.

2. a system or collection of such beliefs.

3. a custom or act based on such a belief.

4. irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious, esp. in connection with religion.

5. any blindly accepted belief or notion.

[1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin superstitiō=superstit-, s. of superstes standing beyond (super- super- + -stes, s. -stit-]

Superstition

 

(See also GOOD LUCK.)

beware the ides of March A warning of impending danger, rarely heard today. This expression alludes to the words of the soothsayer who warned Julius Caesar to “Beware the ides of March.” Caesar ignored the advice, only to be killed on that very day, the 15th of March. According to the ancient Roman calendar, the ides falls on the 15th day of March, May, July, and October, and on the 13th day of the other months.

keep one’s fingers crossed To hope for good luck or success; literally to hook one finger over another. The expression, which dates from the first half of this century, may be connected with the old superstition that making the sign of the cross kept bad luck away.

We’ll … duck when we hear a mortar, and keep our fingers crossed. (Penguin New Writing, 1945)

old wives’ tale A foolish or nonsensical story; a traditional but inaccurate concept or superstition. This expression is derived from the fanciful yarns often related by elderly women.

These are the sort of old wives’ tales which he sings and recites to us. (Benjamin Jowett, The Dialogues of Plato, 1875)

Today the expression usually describes a superstitious notion still adhered to by many people even though it has been discredited by modern science.

put the whammy on See THWARTING.

right foot foremost See get off on the right foot, BEGINNINGS.

three on a match Any practice which reputedly brings ill luck, but most often the specific and literal practice of lighting three cigarettes with one match. The superstition supposedly arose among soldiers in wartime who believed that the glow from a match kept alive long enough to light three cigarettes would give the enemy time for careful aim at them as targets, thus quite possibly bringing about their death.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

superstition - an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear superstitious notion belief - any cognitive content held as true

superstition

noun

1. unfounded belief Fortune-telling is an art surrounded by superstition.

2. myth, story, belief, legend, old wives' tale, notion The phantom of the merry-go-round is just a local superstition.

Quotations
"Superstition is the religion of feeble minds" [Edmund Burke Reflections on the Revolution in France]
"Superstition is the poetry of life" [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Maximen und Reflexionen]

Translations

خُرافَهمِثال خُرافي

суеверие

superstició

pověra

overtro

AberglaubeAberglauben

δεισιδαιμονία

superstición

ebausk

taikausko

superstition

אמונה תפלה

praznovjericapraznovjerjesujevjerje

babona

hjátrú

superstizionesuperstiziosoubbia

superstitio

prietaringaiprietaringumas

aizspriedumsmāņticībaticējums

bijgeloof

overtroovertru

przesąd

superstição

суевериепристрастие

povera

praznoverje

skrock

batıl inançbatıl itikatboş inanç

迷信迷信行为

superstition

[ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃən] N → superstición f

superstition

[ˌsuːpə^rˈstɪʃ^ən] n → superstition f

superstition

n → Aberglaube m no pl; this is a superstition → das ist Aberglaube

superstition

[ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃ/ən] n → superstizione f

superstition

(suːpəˈstiʃən) noun

1. (the state of fear and ignorance resulting from) the belief in magic, witchcraft and other things that cannot he explained by reason. bygeloof خُرافَه суеверност superstição pověra der Aberglaube overtro δεισιδαιμονίαsuperstición ebausk خرافه taikausko superstition אמונה תפלה अन्धविश्वास praznovjernost babona tahayul hjátrú superstizione 迷信 미신 prietaras, prietaringumas māņticība; aizspriedums tahyul; kepercayaan karut bijgeloofovertroprzesąd خرافات superstição superstiţie суеверие povera vraževerje sujeverje vidskepelse, vidskeplighet ความเชื่อในผีสางเทวดา boş inanç, batıl itikat 迷信 марновірство; забобони اوہام پرستی sự mê tín 迷信

2. an example of this type of belief. There is an old superstition that those who marry in May will have bad luck. bygeloof مِثال خُرافي суеверие superstição pověra der Aberglaube overtro δεισιδαιμονία, πρόληψηsuperstición uskumus خرافه پرستي uskomus superstition אֱמוּנָה תְּפֵלָה praznovjerje, sujevjerje babona tahayul hjátrú superstizione 迷信 맹신 prietaras ticējums tahyul; kepercayaan karut bijgeloofovertrozabobon د خرافاتو پیروی کول superstição superstiţie суеверие povera vraža sujeverje skrock ความเชื่องมงาย batıl inanç 迷信行為 забобон اس قسم کے عقیدے کی ایک مثٓال tính dị đoan 迷信行为

ˌsuperˈstitious adjective

superstitious beliefs; She has always been very superstitious. bygelowig خُرافي суеверен supersticioso pověrčivý abergläubisch overtroisk προληπτικόςsupersticioso ebausklik خرافه پرست taikauskoinen superstitieux שֶׁל אֱמוּנוֹת תְפֵלוֹת अन्धविश्वासी praznovjeran, sujevjeran babonás percaya tahayul hjátrúarfullur superstizioso 迷信深い 미신적인 prietaringas māņticīgs; aizspriedumains karut bijgelovigovertroiskprzesądny خرافات باندی عقیده لرونکی supersticioso super­stiţios суеверный poverčivý praznoveren sujeveran vidskeplig, skrockfull ซึ่งเชื่อโชคลาง batıl inançları olan 迷信的 забобонний توہم پرست mê tín 迷信的

ˌsuperˈstitiously adverb

bygelowig بصورةٍ خُرافِيَّه суеверно supersticiosamente pověrčivě abergläubisch overtroiskt προληπτικά supersticiosamente ebausklikult خرافه پرستانه taikauskoisesti superstitieusement מַאֲמִיו בְּאֱמוּנוֹת תְפֵלוֹת अन्धविश्वास के साथ praznovjerno babonásan dengan mempercayai tahayul á hjátrúarfullan hátt superstiziosamente 迷信深く 미신적으로 prietaringai māņticīgi; aizspriedumaini karut bijgelovigovertroisk zabobonnie په خرافاتی ډول supersticiosamente (în mod) supersti­ţios суеверно poverčivo praznoverno sujeverno vidskepligt, skrockfullt อย่างงมงาย boş şeylere inanarak 迷信地 ґрунтуючись на забобонах توہم پرستی سے mê tín 迷信地

superstition

n. superstición.

superstition

n superstición f