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puritanism

 - 2 dictionary results

Pu⋅ri⋅tan⋅ism

  [pyoor-i-tn-iz-uhm]
Use puritanism in a Sentence
–noun
1. the principles and practices of the Puritans.
2. (sometimes lowercase) extreme strictness in moral or religious matters, often to excess; rigid austerity.
Origin:
1565–75; Puritan + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To puritanism
Pu·ri·tan·ism   (pyŏŏr'ĭ-tn-ĭz'əm)   
n.  

  1. The practices and doctrines of the Puritans.

  2. puritanism Scrupulous moral rigor, especially hostility to social pleasures and indulgences: "Puritanism is the source of our greatest hypocrisies and most crippling illusions" (Molly Haskell).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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