chaste

chaste

adjective \ˈchāst\

chast·erchast·est

Definition of CHASTE

1

: innocent of unlawful sexual intercourse

2

: celibate

3

: pure in thought and act : modest

4

a : severely simple in design or execution : austere <chaste classicism>

b : clean, spotless

— chaste·ly adverb

— chaste·ness \ˈchās(t)-nəs\ noun

Examples of CHASTE

1. a chaste kiss on the cheek
2. <as one would expect, the minister's small talk is always chaste, even though he likes a joke as much as the next person>

Origin of CHASTE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin castus pure

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CHASTE

Synonyms

clean, decent, G-rated, immaculate, modest, pure, vestal, virgin, virginal

Antonyms

coarse, dirty, filthy, immodest, impure, indecent, obscene, smutty, unchaste, unclean, vulgar

Related Words

lily-white, spotless, stainless, unblemished, undefiled, unsoiled, unspotted, unstained, unsullied, untainted, untarnished; decorous, proper, seemly; cultivated, refined, tasteful; harmless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive

Near Antonyms

blemished, defiled, soiled, spotted, stained, sullied, tainted, tarnished; improper, indecorous, indelicate, ribald, unseemly; crude, tacky, tasteless, unrefined

Synonym Discussion of CHASTE

chaste, pure, modest, decent mean free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious. chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows <they maintained chaste relations>. pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions <the pure of heart>. modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity <preferred more modest swimsuits> <decent people didn't go to such movies>.

Rhymes with CHASTE

based, baste, haste, laced, paste, taste, waist, waste