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Webster 1913 Edition


Chaste

Chaste

(chāst)
,
Adj.
[F.
chaste
, from L.
castus
pure, chaste; cf. Gr.
καθαρόσ
pure, Skr.
çudh
to purify.]
1.
Pure from unlawful sexual intercourse; virtuous; continent.
“As chaste as Diana.”
Shak.
Whose bed is undefiled and
chaste
pronounced.
Milton.
2.
Pure in thought and act; innocent; free from lewdness and obscenity, or indecency in act or speech; modest;
as, a
chaste
mind;
chaste
eyes
.
3.
Pure in design and expression; correct; free from barbarisms or vulgarisms; refined; simple;
as, a
chaste
style in composition or art
.
That great model of
chaste
, lofty, and eloquence, the Book of Common Prayer.
Macaulay.
Syn. – Undefiled; pure; virtuous; continent; immaculate; spotless.
Chaste tree
.
Same as
Agnus castus
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Chaste

CHASTE

,
Adj.
1.
Pure from all unlawful commerce of sexes. Applied to persons before marriage, it signifies pure from all sexual commerce, undefiled; applied to married persons, true to the marriage bed.
2.
Free from obscenity.
While they behold your chaste conversation. 1 Peter 3.
3.
In language, pure; genuine; uncorrupt; free from barbarous words and phrases, and from quaint, affected, extravagant expressions.

Definition 2024


chaste

chaste

English

Adjective

chaste (comparative chaster, superlative chastest)

  1. abstaining from sexual intercourse, celibate
  2. virginal, innocent, having had no sexual experience
  3. simple, austere, undecorative
    a chaste style in composition or art
  4. modest, decent, morally pure
    a chaste mind; chaste eyes

Hyponyms

Usage notes

  • Married couples are often exhorted to have "chaste sex"--compare the Vatican encyclical Casti Connubii (Of Chaste Wedlock).

Derived terms

See also

Translations

Anagrams


French

Etymology

From Old French, from Latin castus.

Pronunciation

Adjective

chaste m, f (plural chastes)

  1. chaste; celibate

Related terms


Old French

Etymology

From Latin castus.

Adjective

chaste m (oblique and nominative feminine singular chaste)

  1. chaste; celibate

Related terms