[ adj ] showing ignorance of the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance <adj.all> finally realized that the horror he felt was superstitious in origin
Superstitious \Su`per*sti"tious\, a. [F. superstitieux, L. superstitiosus.] 1. Of or pertaining to superstition; proceeding from, or manifesting, superstition; as, superstitious rites; superstitious observances.
2. Evincing superstition; overscrupulous and rigid in religious observances; addicted to superstition; full of idle fancies and scruples in regard to religion.
Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. --Acts xvii. 22.
3. Overexact; scrupulous beyond need.
{Superstitious use} (Law), the use of a gift or bequest, as of land, etc., for the maintenance of the rites of a religion not tolerated by the law. [Eng.] --Mozley & W. ※ -- {Su`per*sti"tious*ly}, adv. -- {Su`per*sti"tious*ness}, n.
"I'm superstitious _ since one hand is crossed the other one can't be, because it would cancel the other out," quipped Nancy Reagan's spokeswoman, Elaine Crispen.
A high percentage of high school biology teachers profess superstitious beliefs and about one in four think some races of people are inherently more intelligent than others, according to a survey.
The Red Shift Company has dispensed with the witches and the other superstitious bits altogether on the grounds that no-one believes in witches any more.
His wife Kate is somewhat superstitious, but otherwise a model American mother.
Peter Berger, Boston University sociologist, writing in the March 18 issue of National Review: Pat Robertson is accused of holding superstitious beliefs.
"Religion often uses superstitious elements, for example, if it claims to be able to cure people who are ill," she said.
He gave me Marilyn Monroe mouthing superstitious mantras before taking a dash into a torrent on Preminger's River Of No Return.
She added that she is not superstitious and brought no good-luck charms to the pageant.
Nearly all, he says, are people with psychological problems or are superstitious.
Indeed, having been convicted of complacency in the 1970s and early 1980s - and having been badly scared as a result - they now seem almost superstitious in their eagerness to praise their opponents.
"But then we make a great discovery and get superstitious that we'll miss something."
Players and fans, superstitious as ever, are fretting for an answer. Western European teams have won seven of the eight World Cups held in western Europe but none of the six held in South America.