puritan

/'pjuəritən/

Thân thiện

A puritan woman in a modest dress frowns disapprovingly at a colorful, ornate theater poster.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who adheres to strict moral or religious principles, especially one who is opposed to pleasure and luxury: A puritan is someone who lives by a very strict moral code and often disapproves of physical pleasures and entertainment.
   • A member of a specific Protestant group in 16th- and 17th-century England and America: Historically, a Puritan was a member of a religious group that sought to "purify" the Church of England from within, advocating for simpler forms of worship and strict personal piety.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Moral Sense):
  • He was such a puritan that he disapproved of dancing and the theater.
  • Don't be such a puritan; there's nothing wrong with enjoying a good meal.
• Noun (Historical/Religious Sense):
  • The Puritans left England to find religious freedom in the New World.
  • Puritan beliefs had a profound influence on early American society.

Advanced Usage

• "Puritan work ethic": A term describing a strong belief in the moral value of hard work, discipline, and frugality, often associated with Puritan teachings.
  • His success is often attributed to his puritan work ethic.
• Used as a common noun (lowercase 'p') to describe a person with strict attitudes, distinct from the historical religious group (capital 'P').
  • She's a bit of a puritan when it comes to modern fashion. (Describing a person with strict tastes)
  • The Puritan settlers established colonies in Massachusetts. (Referring to the historical group)

Variants and Related Words

• Puritanical (adjective): Having very strict moral attitudes that often seem excessive or disapproving.
  • His puritanical views made him unpopular with the younger generation.
• Puritanism (noun): The beliefs and practices characteristic of Puritans; (more generally) strict morality, especially regarding pleasure.
  • The book examines the legacy of Puritanism in American culture.

Synonyms

• Moralist: A person who teaches or promotes morality, often in a critical way.
• Ascetic: A person who practices severe self-discipline and abstains from indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
• Prude: A person who is easily shocked by matters relating to sex or nudity. (Note: This often has a more negative connotation than 'puritan'.)

Related Phrases

• "Puritan streak": A tendency to have strict or austere moral views.
  • Despite his modern lifestyle, he has a definite puritan streak when it comes to financial debt.

Related Idioms

• "As sober as a Puritan": Extremely serious and morally strict, without humor or indulgence.
  • The meeting was as sober as a Puritan; no one even cracked a smile.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a person excessively concerned about propriety and decorum
2. someone who adheres to strict religious principles; someone opposed to sensual pleasures
3. a member of a group of English Protestants who in the 16th and 17th centuries thought that the Protestant Reformation under Elizabeth was incomplete and advocated the simplification and regulation of forms of worship

Từ đồng nghĩa

• prude
• Puritan