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.
Derivatives:
puritanism n.
Etymology: LL puritas (as PURITY) after earlier Catharan (as CATHAR)