Main Entry:

chaste

Pronunciation:

\ˈchāst\

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

chast·er; chast·est

Etymology:

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

Date:

13th century

1: innocent of unlawful sexual intercourse2: celibate3: pure in thought and act : modest4 a: severely simple in design or execution : austere <chaste classicism> b: clean, spotless

— chaste·ly adverb

— chaste·ness \ˈchās(t)-nəs\ noun

synonyms 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>.