Puritans

1. A group of radical English Protestants that arose in the late sixteenth century and became a major force in England during the seventeenth century. Puritans wanted to “purify” the Church of England by eliminating traces of its origins in the Roman Catholic Church . In addition, they urged a strict moral code and placed a high value on hard work ( see work ethic ). After the execution of King Charles I in 1649, they controlled the new government, the Commonwealth . Oliver Cromwell , who became leader of the Commonwealth, is the best-known Puritan.

Notes

The words puritan and puritanical have come to suggest a zeal for keeping people from enjoying themselves.

Many Puritans, persecuted in their homeland, came to America in the 1620s and 1630s, settling colonies that eventually became Massachusetts . ( See Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony .)

Example Sentences

The sanctimonious, the puritans of all stripes, and the killjoys in general raise the issue annually.

From The Daily Beast

Historically, the Puritans banned Christmas from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1659.

From The Daily Beast

But the men, not less, perhaps even more, characteristic of New England, were the Puritans of our day.

From The Daily Beast

Were the Christmas-hating Puritans on the Mayflower “Scrooges”?

From The Daily Beast

The Puritans got modern American cuisine off to a bad start.

From The Daily Beast

He was tutor to lady Jane Grey, and more noted for his severity against the Puritans than for his learning.

From Project Gutenberg

The Puritans attacked the drama as contrary to Holy Writ, as destructive of religion, and as a menace to public morality.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a sincere and energetic Calvinist, and in 1565 he wrote to Cecil lamenting the measures taken against the Puritans.

From Project Gutenberg

Great activity was evinced in their repair, for they had fallen into sad decay during the hard rule of the Puritans.

From Project Gutenberg

The characteristics of the separate and independent government of these two classes of Puritans were widely different.

From Project Gutenberg