Chaste
/tʃeɪst/noun
Abstaining from extramarital, or especially from all sexual intercourse.
Did you know?The word 'chaste' is rooted in the Latin 'castus', which means 'pure' and was often used in the context of sacred rituals and divine offerings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kas-
“To cut, to separate or to cleanse.”
Latin
Latin
castus
“Pure, unblemished, or sacred, often linked to divine rituals.”
Old French
Old French
chaste
“Pure or virtuous, reflecting moral integrity.”
Middle English
Middle English
chaste
“Retaining purity or virtue, especially in a sexual context.”
Modern English
English
chaste
“Describing a state of sexual purity or abstinence, often with moral implications.”