puritan
pronunciation
How to pronounce puritan in British English:
UK [ˈpjʊərɪtən]
How to pronounce puritan in American English:
US [ˈpjʊrɪtən]
-
- Noun:
- adheres to strict religious principles; opposed to sensual pleasures
- a person excessively concerned about propriety and decorum
-
- Adjective:
- morally rigorous and strict
Word Origin
- Puritan (n.)
- 1560s, "opponent of Anglican hierarchy," later applied opprobriously to "person in Church of England who seeks further reformation" (1570s), probably from purity. Largely historical from 19c. in literal sense. After c. 1590s, applied to anyone deemed overly strict in matters of religion and morals. What [William] Perkins, and the whole Puritan movement after him, sought was to replace the personal pride of birth and status with the professional's or craftsman's pride of doing one's best in one's particular calling. The good Christian society needs the best of kings, magistrates, and citizens. Perkins most emphasized the work ethic from Genesis: "In the swaete of thy browe shalt thou eate thy breade." [E. Digby Baltzell, "Puritan Boston and Quaker Philadelphia," 1979]
Example
- 1. They all eat at the canteen and are all ridiculously puritan .
- 2. Mr liu , by contrast , is a bit of a puritan .
- 3. Anyone expecting of this scot a high-minded , humourless puritan would have been surprised .
- 4. It 's lazy , it 's passive , it 's against our puritan work ethic .
- 5. But the puritan fathers of the massachusetts bay colony did not countenance tolerance of opposing religious views .