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chastity - 4 dictionary results

chas⋅ti⋅ty

[chas-ti-tee]
–noun
the state or quality of being chaste.

Origin:
1175–1225; ME chastite, var. of chastete < OF < L castitāt- (s. of castitās), equiv. to cast(us) chaste + -itāt- -ity
chas·ti·ty   (chās'tĭ-tē)   
n.  
  1. The condition or quality of being pure or chaste.
    1. Virginity.
    2. Virtuous character.
    3. Celibacy.

[Middle English chastite, from Old French chastete, from Latin castitās, from castus, pure; see chaste.]

Chastity

Chas"ti*ty\, n. [F. chastet['e], fr. L. castitas, fr. castus. See Chaste.]

1. The state of being chaste; purity of body; freedom from unlawful sexual intercourse.

She . . . hath preserved her spotless chastity. --T. Carew.

2. Moral purity.

So dear to heaven is saintly chastity, That, when a soul is found sicerely so A thousand liveried angels lackey her. --Milton.

3. The unmarried life; celibacy. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

4. (Literature & Art) Chasteness.

chastity 
c.1225, "virginity, celibacy," from O.Fr. chastité, from L. castitatem "purity," from castus (see caste).
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