religion

re•li•gion

noun

1 a) belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe b) expression of such a belief in conduct and ritual

2 a) any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy [the Christian religion, the Buddhist religion, etc.] b) any system of beliefs, practices, ethical values, etc. resembling, suggestive of, or likened to such a system [humanism as a religion]

3 the state or way of life of a person in a monastery, convent, etc.

4 any object of conscientious regard and pursuit

¤get religion [Colloq.] 1 to become religious

2 to become very conscientious or earnest about something

Etymology [ME religioun derived from OFr or L: OFr religion derived from L religio, reverence for the gods, holiness, in LL(Ec), a system of religious belief derived from ? religare, to bind back derived from re-, back + ligare, to bind, bind together; or derived from ? re- + IE base *le?-, to collect > logic, Gr legein, L legere]