PURITAN


Meaning of PURITAN in English

— puritanlike , adj. — puritanly , adv.

/pyoor"i tn/ , n.

1. a member of a group of Protestants that arose in the 16th century within the Church of England, demanding the simplification of doctrine and worship, and greater strictness in religious discipline: during part of the 17th century the Puritans became a powerful political party.

2. ( l.c. ) a person who is strict in moral or religious matters, often excessively so.

adj.

3. of or pertaining to the Puritans.

4. ( l.c. ) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a moral puritan; puritanical.

[ 1540-50; purit ( as ) PURITY + -AN ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .