4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Puritan  \Pu"ri*tan\,  n.  [From  {Purity}.] 
  1.  (Eccl.  Hist.)  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. 
 
  Note:  The  Puritans  were  afterward  distinguished  as  Political 
  Puritans,  Doctrinal  Puritans,  and  Puritans  in 
  Discipline.  --Hume. 
 
  2.  One  who  is  scrupulous  and  strict  in  his  religious  life;  -- 
  often  used  reproachfully  or  in  contempt;  one  who  has 
  overstrict  notions. 
 
  She  would  make  a  puritan  of  the  devil.  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Puritan  \Pu"ri*tan\,  a. 
  Of  or  pertaining  to  the  Puritans;  resembling,  or 
  characteristic  of  the  Puritans. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  puritan 
  adj  :  morally  rigorous  and  strict;  "blue  laws";  "the  puritan  work 
  ethic";  "puritanic  distaste  for  alcohol";  "she  was 
  anything  but  puritanical  in  her  behavior"  [syn:  {blue(a)}, 
  {puritanic},  {puritanical}] 
  n  1:  adheres  to  strict  religious  principles;  opposed  to  sensual 
  pleasures 
  2:  a  person  excessively  concerned  about  propriety  and  decorum 
  [syn:  {prude}] 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Puritan,  PA 
  Zip  code(s):  15946 

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