Puritans

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A religious group from the 16th and 17th centuries in England dedicated to reforming Anglican traditions and practices; Individuals advocating a rigorous moral code grounded in Protestant theology; Historically, these people are known for their ascetic lifestyles and commitment to personal faith and ethical discipline
2. Members of a 16th-17th century English religious movement aiming to purify church practices ; people who promote a severe code of ethics and devout lifestyle
3. Followers of Protestant reform who sought to simplify and purify church rituals in early modern England ; individuals known for their insistence on moral rigor and personal piety

Etymology: The plural "puritans" is simply the plural of "puritan," which is the noun form of "Puritan," the name for the English reformers who wanted to purify the Church of England of what they saw as remnants of Catholic practice. Because the word is a plural, its story is the story of that single noun. The term "Puritan" was first applied as a label of criticism, a way for opponents to mock people who insisted on a stricter, more scriptural form of worship. Those so named generally did not choose it for themselves, and the group they belonged to was never a single organised church. Instead it was a loose movement whose members argued over how far the reform should go. Over time the label outlived the movement's original meaning. It came to describe anyone regarded as excessively strict in morals or religious observance, and the plural form is most often used in this broader sense today.

Synonyms: reformers, ascetics, protestants, zealots, fundamentalists