Impius

Impius is a Latin adjective meaning impious, irreverent toward the gods, or lacking pietas. It designates behavior or attitudes considered disrespectful of religious duties and, by extension, morally deviant within Roman moral vocabulary. Its positive counterpart is pius, meaning dutiful or devout.

Etymology and forms: The word is formed from the prefix in- plus pius, yielding impius. It declines as a standard second-declension adjective: masculine impius, feminine impia, neuter impium; plural masculine impii, feminine impiae, neuter impia.

Usage: In Latin prose and poetry, impius is applied to individuals, actions, or institutions regarded as impious toward the gods or sacred duties. Related nouns include impietas (impiety) and pietas (duty, reverence). The term appears in discussions of religious rites, oath-taking, and moral conduct; in ecclesiastical Latin it can describe pagan rites or secular rebellion against divine authority.

Modern usage: In English-language scholarship, impius is translated as impious. The term appears in translations of Latin passages dealing with religious institutions, Roman law on pietas, and studies of Roman religion. It is primarily encountered in academic contexts rather than as a living term in contemporary prose.