pio

n. [ F. pionier, orig., a foot soldier, OF. peonier, fr. OF. peon a foot soldier, F. pion. See Pawn in chess. ] 1. (Mil.) A soldier detailed or employed to form roads, dig trenches, and make bridges, as an army advances. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who goes before, as into the wilderness, preparing the way for others to follow; as, pioneers of civilization; pioneers of reform. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Pioneered p. pr. & vb. n. Pioneering. ] 1. To go before, and prepare or open a way for; to act as pioneer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. to take part in the early development of; to break ground in; to invent or originate. [ PJC ]

a. groundbreaking; originating; -- of efforts that begin work in a field or on a topic not previously widely known. [ PJC ]

In Utah, a legal holiday, July 24, commemorated the arrival, in 1847, of Brigham Young and his followers at the present site of Salt Lake City. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A pioneer. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) See Peony. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Piet. ] (Zool.) The magpie. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. pius: cf. F. pieux. ] 1. Of or pertaining to piety; exhibiting piety; reverential; dutiful; religious; devout; godly. “Pious hearts.” Milton. “Pious poetry.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where was the martial brother's pious care? Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Practiced under the pretext of religion; prompted by mistaken piety; as, pious errors; pious frauds. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Godly; devout; religious; righteous. [ 1913 Webster ]