Puritan

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpjʊə.ɹɪ.tən/

Definitions

1. A person of austere moral conviction who rejects sensual pleasures and advocates rigorous adherence to religious or ethical standards
2. Someone devoted to severe self-discipline and principled living who views worldly enjoyments with suspicion and disapproval
3. An individual committed to strict religious or moral principles who often disapproves of leisure or indulgence ; someone who lives with rigid self-control and avoids pleasures considered sinful or frivolous

Etymology: Puritan began as a nickname for English Protestants who wanted the Church of England stripped of what they saw as leftover Catholic practices, such as elaborate ceremony and church decoration. The name came from the idea of purifying the church, and it was meant as an insult. It is built on the same root as "pure," which traces back to the Latin "purus." Over time the term lost its religious focus. It came to describe anyone who lives with stern moral discipline and frowns on pleasure, dancing, or fun. The shift from a specific church dispute to a general character trait is what gives the word its modern bite, because the label now applies to people who may have no interest in theology at all.

Synonyms: moralist, ascetic, prude, zealot, purist

Antonyms: libertine, debauchee, hedonist, nonconformist, dissenter