why do we get archaic terms?

Question

is pious an archaic term - why do we not use it so much any more?

Answer 1

"Pious" is one of those words whose modern definition has changed from its original meaning.

"Hag" used to be a term of reverence for women in "pagan" societies who studied plants as medicines and practiced midwifery (they were, essentially, scientists) until the christians came along and branded them witches. Now "hag" is a negative term for older women.

Speaking of "pagan" that word's original meaning was from a Latin word which translated as "of the countryside". Despite what christians today claim of other religions, christianity IS a pagan religion by the original definition.

"Pious", in its original meaning, meant "to be devout" or "strongly religious". Today, however, it is synonymous with "self-righteous" and "zealot", eg. "a pious bigot". Unlike the other discussed words, it's a far more apt new meaning since so many "pious" religious people today are fundamentalists.

"Archaic"? Your 'question' sounds like you assume such words are chosen in the present, rather than remnants of the past. Carrying such words in your vocabulary makes your language more colourful; try reading Victorian authors - Dickens, Balzac, etc. Even if it doesn't, at least you'll be reading worthwhile books.


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Answer 2

Pious is not archaic. It is still very much in use today. You will run into it if you read a lot. It is a good word to know. The more words you know, the more articulate and precise you can be when communicating either by talking or by writing.

Here ya go:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pious