puritan English · revision 987

11 Oct 2026, 04:09 by bogdan “New entry from the dictionary sources (AHD, Barnhart, Etymonline, MW, OED, RHWU, Wiktionary)” current version
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+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈpjʊə.ɹɪ.tən/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpjʊ.ɹɪ.tən/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ Probably formed from [[la-lat|pūritās|t=purity]] or English [[purity]] with the suffix ''-an'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Latin ''pūrus'' “pure”.^(AHD) The AHD suggests it was modelled on Medieval Latin ''Kathari'' “the pure ones”, the name of a third-century sect.^(AHD)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ In the 1560s, an opponent of the Anglican hierarchy's rules on ritual and vestments (1564),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and from 1571 a member of the party in the Church of England demanding further reformation.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The Puritans became a powerful political party in the 17th century,^(RHWU) and some settled in New England.^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) The name was applied to members of any sect advocating special purity of doctrine (1577),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and from 1592, chiefly in reproach, to anyone thought overly strict in religion or morals.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) From the 19th century the original sense was largely historical.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) ''Puritanical'' dates from 1607.^(Barnhart 1995)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1564 – an opponent of the Anglican hierarchy.^(Barnhart 1995)
+ * 1571 – a member of the reforming party in the Church of England.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)
+ * 1581 – adjective.^(MW Collegiate)
+ * 1592 – anyone overly strict in religion or morals.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)
+ * 1607 – ''puritanical''.^(Barnhart 1995)
+ 
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # ''(usually capitalized)'' A member of a group of English [[Protestant|alt=Protestants]] of the 16th and 17th centuries who sought strict discipline and the simplification of the worship and creeds of the [[Church of England]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # A person who is very strict in moral or religious matters, especially one who regards pleasure or luxury as sinful.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ===Adjective===
+ # Of or relating to the Puritans or [[Puritanism]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)
+ # Characteristic of a puritan; [[puritanical]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[purity]]
+ * [[puritanical]]
+ * [[Puritanism]]
+ * [[pure]]
+ * [[Cathar]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}