Chastity

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈt͡ʃastɪti/

Definitions

1. The quality or state of refraining from sexual activity considered immoral or inappropriate
2. A moral principle involving self-restraint or avoidance of sexual intercourse outside accepted norms
3. The practice or condition of maintaining purity in sexual conduct through abstinence or fidelity

Etymology: "Chastity" is a close relative of "chaste," and the two share a Latin ancestor, "castus," meaning pure, clean, or morally blameless. The Latin word originally carried a broad sense of ritual purity, the kind of cleanliness a priest or a sacrifice needed, and only later narrowed toward sexual restraint. English took the noun through Middle English "chastite," which came from Old French "chasteté." French kept the Latin shape but softened it into a form ordinary speakers could handle, which is why scholars call it a semi-learned word rather than a plain inheritance. The ending does most of the work of forming the noun. "-ity" is the Latin suffix that turns an adjective into an abstract noun meaning "the state of being" that adjective, so "chaste" plus "-ity" yields the quality of being chaste. The same pattern produces words like "charity" and "humanity."

Synonyms: purity, virginity, modesty

Antonyms: lewdness, lasciviousness