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.

   • c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

     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.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Timothy 6:6:

     But godlinesse with contentment is great gaine.

• cleanliness is next to godliness

• deity

• dogliness