godfearing

From god +‎ fearing, likely an alteration of Middle English goddfrihti (“god-fearing”, literally “god-frighty”) and god-friht (“god-fearing”) (whence modern English god-fright), from Old English godfyrht (“god-fearing”). Compare Old High German gotforht (“god-fearing”).

godfearing (comparative more godfearing, superlative most godfearing)

1. Acting with obedience to rules established by a deity out of fear of the power of that deity.
2. Devout; pious; very religious.

• godfearingly
• godfearingness