CHASTE

chaste

(adjective) morally pure (especially not having experienced sexual intercourse); “a holy woman innocent and chaste”

chaste

(adjective) abstaining from unlawful sexual intercourse

chaste

(adjective) pure and simple in design or style; “a chaste border of conventionalized flowers”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

chaste (comparative chaster, superlative chastest)

Abstaining from immoral or unlawful sexual intercourse.

Virginal, innocent, having had no sexual experience.

Austere, simple, undecorative.

Decent, modest, morally pure.

Usage notes

Married couples are often exhorted to have “chaste sex” – compare the Vatican encyclical Casti Connubii (Of Chaste Wedlock).

Hyponyms

• celibate

• incel

Anagrams

• 'stache, 'taches, Scheat, achest, chates, cheats, he-cats, sachet, scathe, she-cat, stache, taches, thecas

Source: Wiktionary

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Chaste, a. Etym: [F. chaste, from L. castus pure, chaste; cf. Gr. 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.

4. Unmarried. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Syn.

– Undefiled; pure; virtuous; continent; immaculate; spotless. Chaste tree. Same as Agnus castus.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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