chastity
Virtue of abstinence
Chastity is abstention from sexual activity, or restriction of it to marriage.
The word carries religious and moral connotations—a chastity vow is taken by clergy, and a chastity belt supposedly prevented sex during a husband's absence.
More broadly, chastity suggests purity or restraint: the chastity of her prose style.
Abstaining from intimate relations
- continenceControl over bodily functions
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
- virginityAbsence of carnal experience
- restraintControl over impulses
refraining · forbearance · renunciation · abstaining · withholding · denial · resistance · avoidance
Absence of carnal experience
- innocenceFreedom from wrongdoing
- immaculatenessTotal absence of flaws
- spotlessnessComplete absence of dirt
- unblemishedFree from any defect
undefiled · unsullied · wholesomeness · pristine · untouched · maiden · maidenhood · virtue
Abstaining from intimate relations
- vowSolemn personal commitment
- nunHebrew alphabet's fourteenth
- monkCloistered religious devotee
- conventReligious sisters' dwelling
monastery · priesthood · ordination · clergy · devotion · piety · saintliness · consecration
Trained self-control or specialty
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- restraintControl over impulses
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
continence · forbearance · moderation · self-mastery · self-command · stoicism · resistance · self-discipline
Moral goodness or merit
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
- monogamyOne partner at a time
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
decency · integrity · uprightness · rectitude · propriety · morality · righteousness · probity
Absence of pigment
- purity ringAbstinence pledge jewelry
- veilFabric that obscures
- lilyTrumpet-shaped garden bloom
- unicornMythical one-horned horse
dove · pearl · virgin · maiden · wedding night · bridal · deflowering · hymen
Modestly reserved in manner
- decorousSocially appropriate, dignified
- properSocially appropriate
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- reservedRestrained in manner
covering · decency · propriety · seemliness · discretion · bashfulness · circumspection
celibacy
Abstaining from intimate relations
- continenceControl over bodily functions
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
- virginityAbsence of carnal experience
restraint · refraining · forbearance · renunciation · abstaining · withholding · denial · resistance · avoidance · nonindulgence
virginity
Absence of carnal experience
- innocenceFreedom from wrongdoing
- immaculatenessTotal absence of flaws
- spotlessnessComplete absence of dirt
unblemished · undefiled · unsullied · wholesomeness · pristine · untouched · maiden · maidenhood · virtue · honor
celibacy
Abstaining from intimate relations
convent · monastery · priesthood · ordination · clergy · devotion · piety · saintliness · consecration · holy orders
discipline
Trained self-control or specialty
- willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
- restraintControl over impulses
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
self-denial · continence · forbearance · moderation · self-mastery · self-command · stoicism · resistance · self-discipline · fortitude
virtue
Moral goodness or merit
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- faithfulnessDevoted loyalty maintained
- monogamyOne partner at a time
honor · decency · integrity · uprightness · rectitude · propriety · morality · righteousness · probity · conscience
white
Absence of pigment
- purity ringAbstinence pledge jewelry
- veilFabric that obscures
- lilyTrumpet-shaped garden bloom
unicorn · dove · pearl · virgin · maiden · wedding night · bridal · deflowering · hymen
demure
Modestly reserved in manner
reserved · covering · decency · propriety · seemliness · discretion · bashfulness · circumspection
- Catholic Familyfamily prayer, family altar, Catholic school, Catholic education, Catholic values
- Puritan virtuespiety, frugality, self-denial, modesty, sobriety
- Puritanismpuritanism, moral purity, prudery, prudishness, strictness
- Buddhist ethicsright action, moral conduct, ahimsa, precepts, merit
- Cloistered Nunscloistered nuns, enclosure, cloister, convent, contemplative life
- Islamic ethicsihsan, moral virtues, ethical conduct, birr, divine law
chastitypromiscuity
Frequent casual sexual encounters
lechery · debauchery · licentiousness · wantonness · fornication
chastityimpurity
Substance degrading another's quality
sinfulness · immorality · wickedness · corruption · depravity
- chastity beltLocking garment preventing intercourse
- vow of chastityPromise to abstain sexually
- chastity vowPledge of sexual abstinence
- chastity ringAbstinence commitment jewelry