n. & adj.
n. 1 (Puritan) hist. a member of a group of English Protestants who regarded the Reformation of the Church under Elizabeth as incomplete and sought to simplify and regulate forms of worship. 2 a purist member of any party. 3 a person practising or affecting extreme strictness in religion or morals.
adj. 1 hist. of or relating to the Puritans. 2 scrupulous and austere in religion or morals. puritanism n.
[ LL puritas (as PURITY) after earlier Catharan (as CATHAR) ]