/ ˈpjʊərɪtən; NAmE ˈpjʊr-/ noun , adjective
■ noun
1.
(usually disapproving ) a person who has very strict moral attitudes and who thinks that pleasure is bad
2.
Puritan a member of a Protestant group of Christians in England in the 16th and 17th centuries who wanted to worship God in a simple way
■ adjective
1.
Puritan connected with the Puritans and their beliefs
2.
= puritanical
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from late Latin puritas purity + -an .