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chaste

[cheyst]
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

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

Related Words

subdued, platonic, virginal, celibate, unblemished, monogamous, austere, clean, continent, decent, decorous, elegant, immaculate, impotent, inexperienced, innocent, modest, moral, neat, proper

Examples from the Web for chaster

Historical Examples

  • The chaster she is, all the more will she revolt at the shamefulness of the verification!

    The Executioner's Knife

    Eugne Sue

  • And my chaster imperial love, what were you too but earthliness?

    Majesty

    Louis Couperus

  • "Unmatcht for beauty, chaster than the ayre," wrote one poet.

  • I wonder if we can't smuggle the skulls and the skeleton into Mr. Chaster's room?

    Joe The Hotel Boy

    Horatio Alger Jr.

  • But it remained for the chaster genius of Addison to banish this painful topic from his elegant pages.

British Dictionary definitions for chaster

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 chaster

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