godliness

godly +‎ -ness

godliness (countable and uncountable, plural godlinesses)

1. The condition and quality of being godly, pious, scrupulously observant of all the teachings of one's religion, practicing virtue and avoiding sin.
   • 1562, The Thirty-Nine Articles, Point 32:

     Bishops, Priests, and Deacons are not commanded by God's laws either to vow the estate of single life or to abstain from marriage. Therefore it is lawful also for them, as for all other Christian men, to marry at their own discretion, as they shall judge the same to serve better to godliness.

   • 1604, Shakespeare, Othello, Act 1, Scene 2:

     Nay, but he prated,

     And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms

     Against your honour

     That, with the little godliness I have,

     I did full hard forbear him.

• deity

• dogliness