godly

Godly is an adjective with several related senses in English. In religious usage, it describes something pertaining to God or to the divine, or a quality expected of the faithful, such as holiness, obedience, or righteousness. It can refer to a person who embodies such qualities, or to behaviors and practices that reflect following divine will. In general, the term connotes piety and moral seriousness, often within a Christian context but also in broader religious discourse.

Etymology: The word comes from Old English godlic "godlike, resembling God," formed from god and the suffix -lic meaning "like" or "characteristic of." Its sense of "devout" or "holy" developed in later centuries and appears in many early English translations of the Bible to translate concepts of piety, righteousness, and godliness.

Usage and connotation: In religious writing, godly describes persons or lives aligned with God’s will, such as a godly mother or godly conduct. In secular writing, it can retain solemn or archaic nuance or be used metaphorically to praise admirable virtue, though this can feel old-fashioned or incongruous outside religious contexts. The exact shade of meaning can vary by denomination and tradition.

Cross-cultural and historical notes: The idea behind "godly" overlaps with terms like holy, devout, and pious, but does not map perfectly across all faiths. In modern English, speakers may prefer wording like righteous, virtuous, or devout when not signaling explicit religiosity.

See also: godliness, piety, holiness, righteousness, devoutness.