puritan
UK[ˈpjʊərɪtən]US[ˈpjʊrɪtən]
n
A member of a group of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to simplify and regulate forms of worship.
n
A person with very strict moral attitudes who disapproves of physical pleasures.
Morpheme Breakdown
pur
itan
pur
pure
itan
agent suffix
Etymology
The term 'Puritan' originated in 16th-century England as a term of abuse for those who wanted to 'purify' the Church of England from remaining Roman Catholic practices. It is built directly on the English word 'pure', derived from Latin purus, which carries the fundamental sense of being clean, unmixed, or free from moral fault. The suffix '-itan' (a variant of '-ite') functions to label a person associated with that quality, thus creating the literal meaning "one who seeks purity." Over time, the specific historical meaning expanded to describe anyone exhibiting or advocating for strict moral or religious austerity, shifting from a specific group label to a general character trait.
Analysis
Structure: pur (pure) + itan (agent suffix)
'pur' is from Latin 'purus' (pure, clean). 'itan' is an English agent suffix, akin to '-ite', used to form nouns denoting a follower or adherent.
Examples
The Puritan settlers established colonies in New England based on their religious principles.
His puritan attitudes made him frown upon any form of extravagant celebration.
She has a puritan work ethic, believing that leisure is a sign of laziness.