chasteadj.
/tʃeɪst/, U.S. /tʃeɪst/ 1.
a. Pure from unlawful sexual intercourse; continent, virtuous. (Of persons, their lives, conduct, etc.)
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > purity > chastity > [adjective] > chaste
sedefulc1000
chaste?c1225
purec1380
continenta1398
castc1430
chastful1497
unwanton1606
moral1803
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 128 Meiden had..oðer efter meidene lure cheaste clennesse.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 191 Þat made, lo! þe wymmen þe chastore lyf lede.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 202 He ne is naȝt chast.
c1386 G. Chaucer Summoner's Tale 209 And chast [v.r. chaast] was man in Paradis certeyn.
1552 Abp. J. Hamilton Catech. Tabil sig. *.iiv All thame quhilk leiuis ane chast lyfe.
1673 J. Ray Observ. Journey Low-countries 55 None more Chast and true to their Husbands.
1747 W. Collins Odes 10 O chaste unboastful Nymph, to Thee I call!
1869 W. E. H. Lecky Hist. European Morals I. i. 153 Had the Irish peasants been less chaste, they would have been more prosperous.
b. transferred. Pertaining to sexual purity.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > purity > chastity > [adjective]
chaste1565
1565–73 T. Cooper Thesaurus Abstinentes oculi, Chast and honest eyes.
1832 W. Irving Alhambra II. 144 The chaste and cautious maxims in which she had, as it were, steeped her.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess vii. 157 Then reign the world's great bridals, chaste and calm.
a. Celibate, single. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > unmarried person(s) > [adjective] > by choice
chastec1315
unmarrying1722
celibate1827
unmating1857
c1315 Shoreham 61 Ac ȝef eny ys ine the cas, Red ich that he be chaste.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 492 Her vnderlingis and her felawis and britheren being in the religiouns forto lyue chaast for euer.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 709 All wedding he forsuik, And euirmoir..He levit chest.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. i. 214 She hath sworn, that she wil stil liue chaste . View more context for this quotation
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. ii. 103 Yf I liue to be as old as Sibilla, I will die as chast as Diana. View more context for this quotation
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > procreation or reproduction > infertility > [adjective] > castrated
geldedc1225
cutted1438
geltc1440
chaste1526
evirate1606
castrated1609
memberless1611
unpaveda1616
libbed1616
cut1624
eunuched1627
caponed1630
untesticled1668
castrate1704
eunuch1817
emasculated1830
eunuchal1878
neuter1893
eunuchoid1894
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Matt. xix. f. xxvjv There are chaste, which were so borne..And there are chaste, which be made of men. And there be chaste, which have made them selves chaste for the kyngdom off hevens sake.
1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 167 The word Chast, signifieth, Gelded.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > purity > innocence > [adjective]
bilewhitc890
chastea1340
innocenta1340
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter cxxvii[i]. 1 Þe dred þat a man has to wreth god..is chaste drede.
c1450 Why can't be nun 82 in Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 140 That I may lyue chaste For the corupcion of synnyng.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Wisd. iv. 1 O how fayre is a chaist generacion with vertue?
4. figurative. Undefiled, stainless pure.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > purity > [adjective]
cleanlyc888
unwemmedc950
clean971
lightOE
whiteOE
unfiledc1200
shire?c1225
sheenc1275
wemlessc1275
undefouled13..
undefoileda1325
purec1330
unbleckedc1380
unfouledc1380
clear1382
impollutec1384
unblemishedc1400
undefiledc1400
unspottedc1400
virginc1400
spotless?a1430
immaculate1441
uncorruptc1450
unpollushed1490
intemeratea1492
incorrupted1529
unmaculate1535
impolluted1548
crystallinec1550
incorrupt1550
uncorrupted1565
undistained1565
unstained1573
entire1587
taintless1590
untainted1590
stainless1599
unsmirched1604
intemerated1608
indepravate1609
chastea1616
uncurseda1628
undishonested1631
untaint1638
Adamical1649
sincere1649
undebaucheda1656
unaccurseda1674
amiantal1674
unsoiled1699
unpolluted1732
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) v. ii. 2 Let me not name it to you, you chaste starres. View more context for this quotation
1713 A. Pope Windsor-Forest 9 In her chast Current oft the Goddess laves.
1849 F. W. Robertson Serm. (1866) 1st Ser. viii. 142 The chaste clear stars.
5. Decent; free from indecency or offensiveness.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > purity > chastity > modesty or decency > [adjective] > inoffensive to decency
moralc1390
unlascivious1592
chaste1621
modest1638
family1695
clean1867
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy ii. ii. vi. iv. 378 Vse honest and chast sports.
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. iii. 160 All seem'd Chast within those Walls.
1724 I. Watts Logick 56 Among words which signify the same principal ideas, some are clean and decent, others unclean; some chaste, others obscene.
1760 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy I. x. 35 The Hero's horse was a horse of chaste deportment.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > restrained or moderate behaviour > [adjective]
methelyeOE
i-meteOE
methefulOE
attempre1297
measurablec1330
temprea1340
temperatec1380
temperantc1384
attemperatec1386
attemperelc1386
chastea1400
mannered1435
measureda1450
moderatea1450
well-measuredc1450
attempered1474
modest1548
sober1552
measurely1570
temperable1619
contemperate1647
submissive1753
managed1770
self-contained1838
inexplosive1867
a1400 Octouian 603 The lyoun com..And be the chyld sche ley thon chaste As sche were tame.
7. figurative. Chastened, modest, restrained from all excess:† a. of processes of thought. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [adjective] > purifying or refining > purified or refined
mellowed1575
chaste1774
chastened1794
chastised1794
trashless-
1774 T. Reid Aristotle's Logic vi. §2 A fair and chaste interpretation of nature.
1785 T. Reid Ess. Intellect. Powers 248 Discovered by patient observation, and chaste induction.
b. of tastes, qualities, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > [adjective]
polisheda1382
dainteousc1386
polite?a1500
delicatea1533
courtly1535
civil1551
court-like1552
well-refined1575
nice1588
perpolite1592
politic1596
soft1599
terse1628
refine1646
refined1650
elegant1652
genteel1678
chastea1797
spirituala1806
aesthetic1844
nicey1859
raffiné1865
nuttish1869
too-tooa1884
sophisticated1895
lavender1928
the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > [adjective] > modest or unpretentious specifically of things
modest1582
lowly1637
submiss1638
verecundiousa1639
unambitious1713
quiet1768
chastea1797
unassuminga1807
unshowy1838
low-keyed1878
low key1897
a1797 Burke in H. Rogers Introd. Burke's Wks. 71 Raising them to the level of true dignity, or of chaste self-estimation.
1825 E. Bulwer-Lytton Falkland 26 Her tastes, were, however, too feminine and chaste ever to render her eccentric.
8. Pure in artistic or literary style; without meretricious ornament; chastened, subdued.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > the arts in general > [adjective] > qualities of works generally
wateryc1230
polite?a1500
meagre1539
over-laboured1579
bald1589
spiritless1592
light1597
meretricious1633
standing1661
effectual1662
airy1664
severe1665
correct1676
enervatea1704
free1728
classic1743
academic1752
academical1752
chaste1753
nerveless1763
epic1769
crude1786
effective1790
creative1791
soulless1794
mannered1796
manneristical1830
manneristic1837
subjective1840
inartisticala1849
abstract1857
inartistic1859
literary1900
period1905
atmospheric1908
dateless1908
atmosphered1920
non-naturalistic1925
self-indulgent1926
free-styled1933
soft-centred1935
freestyle1938
pseudish1938
decadent1942
post-human1944
kitschy1946
faux-naïf1958
spare1965
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > plainness > [adjective]
nakedOE
simplea1382
meanc1450
rural1488
misorned1512
inornate?1518
barec1540
broad1588
bald1589
kersey1598
russet1598
unvarnisheda1616
unembellished1630
illaborate1631
severe1665
renable1674
small1678
unadorned1692
inelaborate1747
unlarded1748
chaste1753
uncoloured1845
minimalist1929
spare1965
1753 W. Hogarth Anal. Beauty xiv. 196 They purposely deadened their colours, and kept them what they affectedly called ‘chaste’.
1756 J. Warton Ess. on Pope I. v. 262 So chast and correct a writer.
1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 197 A specimen of chaste biographical composition.
1823 J. Rutter Delineations of Fonthill 45 Its chaste proportions and tasteful arrangement in detail.
1872 J. Yeats Growth Commerce 51 Chaste jewellery.
1873 E. M. Goulburn Thoughts Pers. Relig. ii. x. 136 We prize our prayer book..for its chaste fervour.
9. chaste tree, also †chaste lamb [mistranslation of Latin agnus castus, the name of the tree being mistaken for agnus lamb] : the tree agnus castus n. a species of Vitex.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > tree or shrub groups > vitex trees or shrubs > [noun]
agnus castus?a1450
park leaves1545
hemp-tree1548
chaste lamb1562
chaster1570
Abraham's balm1598
vitex1608
1562 W. Turner 2nd Pt. Herball f. 165v Chast tre.
1562 W. Turner 2nd Pt. Herball f. 166 It is called agnos that is chaste because weomen kepinge chastite in the sacrifices of Ceres vsed to straw this bushe vpon the ground.
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 39 Chastlambe or Agnus castus.
1671 W. Salmon Synopsis Medicinæ iii. xxii. 389 Agnus Castus Ἄγνος Chast Tree. The seed..restrains lust.
1718 J. Quincy Pharmacopœia Officinalis 207 Chaste Lamb. This has got a Name for a Cooler.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. I. 264.
Compounds
chaste-eyed, chaste-glowing, chaste-reserved etc., adjs.
ΚΠ
1631 G. Chapman Warres of Pompey & Caesar in Wks. (1873) III. 189 The gods wills secret are, nor must we measure Their chaste-reserued deepes by our dry shallowes.
1747 W. Collins Odes 50 The Oak-crown'd Sisters, and their chaste-eye'd Queen.
1847 R. W. Emerson Poems 116 Chaste glowing underneath their lids With fire that draws while it repels.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† chastev.
Obsolete.
1. transitive. To correct or amend by discipline; to discipline, train; to bring up under restraint.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > teaching > training > train [verb (transitive)] > discipline
chastec1200
school1579
disciplinate1584
discipline1711
enregiment1831
to put (a person) through a course of sprouts1839
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 11 No prest. ne no bissop ne mai him chastien ne mid forbode. ne mid scrifte.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 196 Þu ne schuldest naut chastin for hire gult.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 2475 In þat forest fede Tristrem hodain gan chast.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 220 Þeruore me ssel þe children chasti, and wel teche.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 317 A wikked wyf þat will nouȝt be chasted.
c1440 W. Hylton Scala Perfeccionis (1494) ii. xlv How he..chastith [1533 chastyseth] hem.
c1513 Frere & Boye sig. Aiv He is a cursed ladde I wolde some other man hym had That wolde hym better chaste.
1549–62 T. Sternhold & J. Hopkins Whole Bk. Psalms lxix. 11 Though I doe fast my flesh to chaste.
2. To reprove, rebuke.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > rebuke or reproof > rebuke or reprove [verb (transitive)]
threac897
threapc897
begripea1000
threata1000
castea1200
chaste?c1225
takec1275
blame1297
chastya1300
sniba1300
withnima1315
undernima1325
rebukec1330
snuba1340
withtakea1340
reprovec1350
chastisea1375
arate1377
challenge1377
undertake1377
reprehenda1382
repreync1390
runta1398
snapea1400
underfoc1400
to call to account1434
to put downc1440
snebc1440
uptakec1440
correptc1449
reformc1450
reprise?c1450
to tell (a person) his (also her, etc.) own1450
control1451
redarguec1475
berisp1481
to hit (cross) one over (of, on) the thumbs1522
checkc1530
admonish1541
nip1548
twig?1550
impreve1552
lesson1555
to take down1562
to haul (a person) over the coals1565
increpate1570
touch1570
school1573
to gather up1577
task1580
redarguate?1590
expostulate1592
tutor1599
sauce1601
snip1601
sneap1611
to take in tax1635
to sharp up1647
round1653
threapen1671
reprimand1681
to take to task1682
document1690
chapter1693
repulse1746
twink1747
to speak to ——1753
haul1795
to pull up1799
carpet1840
rig1841
to talk to1860
to take (a person) to the woodshed1882
rawhide1895
to tell off1897
to tell (someone) where he or she gets off1900
to get on ——1904
to put (a person) in (also into) his, her place1908
strafe1915
tick1915
woodshed1935
to slap (a person) down1938
sort1941
bind1942
bottle1946
mat1948
ream1950
zap1961
elder1967
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 76 Ne chaste ȝe nan swich mon neauer on oðerwise.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 58 Nan wepmon ne chaste ȝe.
3. To inflict corrective punishment on.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > punishment > [verb (transitive)] > inflict disciplinary or corrective punishment
thewc1175
castea1200
chaste?c1225
amendc1300
chastyc1320
chastise1362
corrigec1374
correct1377
scourgec1384
disple1492
orderc1515
nurturec1520
chasten1526
whip1530
discipline1557
school1559
swinge1560
penance1580
disciple1596
castigatea1616
to serve out1829
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 140 He is godes ȝerde. god beteð þe mid him & chastið ase feder his leoue sune.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 428 Sparye he wolde myld men, & chasty þe proute.
c1300 K. Alis. 6478 He chasted heom with sweord.
c1500 Lyfe Roberte Deuyll 202 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 227 Toke a rodde for to chaste hym.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. liii Blamynge and chastynge with moche cruelte.
1621 R. Bolton Statutes Ireland (33 Hen. VI) 22 If any..which the said chieftayne may chaste, doe any trespasse or felony.
4. To restrain, subdue, tranquillize.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > restraint or restraining > restrain [verb (transitive)] > hold in check
bridleOE
tempera1050
chastec1230
to hold inc1300
straina1340
stintc1366
attemperc1380
restraina1387
rulea1391
ward1390
coarctc1400
obtemper?a1425
to hold or keep (a person) shortc1425
compesce1430
stent1488
coactc1520
repressa1525
compress1526
control1548
snaffle1555
temperatea1568
brank1574
halter1577
curb1588
shortena1599
to bear (a rein) upon1603
check1629
coerceate1657
bit1825
throttle1862
hold1901
c1230 Hali Meid. 15 Hwil þi wit atstond & chaisteð þi wil.
c1330 King of Tars in Englische Studien 11 111 Al þat day & alle þat niȝt Noman miȝt him schast.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 729 Mi hauteyn hert bi-houes me to chast, & bere me debonureli.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (1495) ii. xiv. 39 [Angels] chaste euyll spyrytes that they doo not soo moche harme as they wolde.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 860 Harlote with his hendelayk he hoped to chast.
5. ? To keep chaste. rare.
ΚΠ
c1230 Hali Meid. 21 To herien hare drihtin & þonken him ȝeorne þat his mihte ham i cleanschipe chaste.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1889; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.?c1225
v.c1200