chast

a. [ F. chaste, from L. castus pure, chaste; cf. Gr. kaqaro`s pure, Skr. çudh to purify. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Pure from unlawful sexual intercourse; virtuous; continent. “As chaste as Diana.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pure in thought and act; innocent; free from lewdness and obscenity, or indecency in act or speech; modest; as, a chaste mind; chaste eyes. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Pure in design and expression; correct; free from barbarisms or vulgarisms; refined; simple; as, a chaste style in composition or art. [ 1913 Webster ]

That great model of chaste, lofty, and eloquence, the Book of Common Prayer. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Unmarried. [ Obs. ] Chaucer.

Syn. -- Undefiled; pure; virtuous; continent; immaculate; spotless. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chaste tree. Same as Agnus castus. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a chaste manner; with purity. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Chastened p. pr. & vb. n. Chastening. ] [ OE. chastien, OF. Chastier, F. Ch&unr_;tier, fr. L. castigare to punish, chastise; castus pure + agere to lead, drive. See Chaste, Act, and cf. Castigate, Chastise. ] 1. To correct by punishment; to inflict pain upon the purpose of reclaiming; to discipline; as, to chasten a son with a rod. [ 1913 Webster ]

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. Heb. xii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To purify from errors or faults; to refine. [ 1913 Webster ]

They [ classics ] chasten and enlarge the mind, and excite to noble actions. Layard.

Syn. -- To chastise; punish; correct; discipline; castigate; afflict; subdue; purify. To Chasten, Punish, Chastise. To chasten is to subject to affliction or trouble, in order to produce a general change for the better in life or character. To punish is to inflict penalty for violation of law, disobedience to authority, or intentional wrongdoing. To chastise is to punish a particular offense, as with stripes, especially with the hope that suffering or disgrace may prevent a repetition of faults. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Corrected; disciplined; refined; purified; toned down. Sir. W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of such a finished chastened purity. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who chastens. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Chastity; purity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Literature & Art) Freedom from all that is meretricious, gaudy, or affected; as, chasteness of design. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable or deserving of chastisement; punishable. Sherwood. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Chastised p. pr. & vb. n. Chastising. ] [ OE. chastisen; chastien + ending -isen + modern -ise, -ize, L. -izare, Gr. -i`zein. See Chasten. ] 1. To inflict pain upon, by means of stripes, or in any other manner, for the purpose of punishment or reformation; to punish, as with stripes. [ 1913 Webster ]

How fine my master is! I am afraid
He will chastise me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am glad to see the vanity or envy of the canting chemists thus discovered and chastised. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reduce to order or obedience; to correct or purify; to free from faults or excesses. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gay, social sense, by decency chastised. Thomson.

3. To criticize (a person) strongly and directly in order to correct behavior.
Syn. -- castigate, objurgate, chasten, correct, dress down. [ PJC ]

Syn. -- See Chasten. [ 1913 Webster ]