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Webster 1913 Edition


Chaste

Chaste

(chāst)
,
Adj.
[F.
chaste
, from L.
castus
pure, chaste; cf. Gr.
καθαρόσ
pure, Skr.
çudh
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.
Syn. – Undefiled; pure; virtuous; continent; immaculate; spotless.
Chaste tree
.
Same as
Agnus castus
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Chaste

CHASTE

,
Adj.
1.
Pure from all unlawful commerce of sexes. Applied to persons before marriage, it signifies pure from all sexual commerce, undefiled; applied to married persons, true to the marriage bed.
2.
Free from obscenity.
While they behold your chaste conversation. 1 Peter 3.
3.
In language, pure; genuine; uncorrupt; free from barbarous words and phrases, and from quaint, affected, extravagant expressions.