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chaste

[cheyst]
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adjective, chast·er, chast·est.
  1. refraining from sexual intercourse that is regarded as contrary to morality or religion; virtuous.
  2. virgin.
  3. not engaging in sexual relations; celibate.
  4. free from obscenity; decent: chaste conversation.
  5. undefiled or stainless: chaste, white snow.
  6. pure in style; not excessively ornamented; simple.
  7. Obsolete. unmarried.
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Origin of chaste

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin castus clean, pure, chaste
Related formschaste·ly, adverbchaste·ness, noun
Can be confusedcelibate chastechased chastechaste chest

Synonyms

See more synonyms for chaste on Thesaurus.com
1. continent. 4. clean, elevated. 5. unsullied. 6. unaffected, unadorned, neat; classic; elegant.

Antonyms

1. immoral. 4. coarse. 5. debased. 6. ornate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for chastely

Historical Examples

  • His little windows were chastely swathed in Nottingham lace.

    A Room With A View

    E. M. Forster

  • The hand which was yielded to his pressed it gently, timidly, chastely.

    The Parisians, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • The one above the front door was chastely shrouded by inside shutters.

    Stubble

    George Looms

  • I thought it might be given to man to love tenderly and chastely.

    Robert Annys: Poor Priest

    Annie Nathan Meyer

  • These men lived poorly and chastely, and did the office of Levites.

British Dictionary definitions for chastely

chaste

adjective
  1. not having experienced sexual intercourse; virginal
  2. abstaining from sexual intercourse, esp that which is unlawful or immoral
  3. (of conduct, speech, etc) pure; decent; modest
  4. (of style or taste) free from embellishment; simple; restrained
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Derived Formschastely, adverbchasteness, noun

Word Origin

C13: from Old French, from Latin castus pure; compare caste
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for chastely

chaste

adj.

c.1200, "virtuous, pure from unlawful sexual intercourse" (as defined by the Church), from Old French chaste "morally pure" (12c.), from Latin castus "clean, pure, morally pure" (see caste). Transferred sense of "sexually pure" is by 15c., perhaps by influence of chastity, though chaste as a noun meaning "virgin person" is recorded from early 14c. Related: Chastely.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper