Definition of Puritan

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Puritan

One who, in the time of Queen Elizabeth and the first two Stuarts, opposed traditional and formal usages, and advocated simpler forms of faith and worship than those established by law; -- originally, a term of reproach. The Puritans formed the bulk of the early population of New England.

One who is scrupulous and strict in his religious life; -- often used reproachfully or in contempt; one who has overstrict notions.

Of or pertaining to the Puritans; resembling, or characteristic of, the Puritans.

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Puritan Quotations

A puritan is a person who pours righteous indignation into the wrong things.
Gilbert K. Chesterton

In the United States there's a Puritan ethic and a mythology of success. He who is successful is good. In Latin countries, in Catholic countries, a successful person is a sinner.
Umberto Eco

When they talk about family values, it's in a repressive way, as if our American tradition were only the Puritan tradition or the 19th century oppressive tradition. The Christian tradition.
James Hillman

I wish to Christ I could make up a really great lie. Sometimes, after an interview, I say to myself, 'Man, you were so honest - can't you have some fun? Can't you do some really down and dirty lying?' But the puritan in me thinks that if I tell a lie, I'll be punished.
Willem Dafoe

The puritan hated bear baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators.
Thomas B. Macaulay

For a Jewish Puritan of the middle class, the novel is serious, the novel is work, the novel is conscientious application why, the novel is practically the retail business all over again.
Howard Nemerov

The Pilgrim and the Puritan whom we honor tonight were men who did a great deal of work in the world. They had their faults and their - shortcomings, but they were not slothful in business and they were most fervent in spirit.
Henry Cabot Lodge

You know the puritan ethic that started out four centuries ago in this country, needless to say - at least for the moment - a thing of the past - from what I can tell.
James Young

And my father, being a good Swiss puritan, always really insisted that if I was going to be an actor, I shouldn't just be an actor, I should know about the whole process.
Rene Auberjonois

Men of New England, I hold you to the doctrines of liberty which ye inherit from your Puritan forefathers.
Caleb Cushing

Puritan Translations

puritan in Afrikaans is puriteins
puritan in Dutch is puriteins
puritan in German is Puritaner
Puritan in Swedish is puritan

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