puritanism means strict and austere religious conduct. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 81 out of 100.
Why “puritanism” is a great word
A doctrine and practice characterized by extreme strictness in moral and religious conduct. From puritan (a member of a Protestant group seeking purity of worship) + -ism (forming nouns of action or practice). First attested in the 1570s. Unlike asceticism, which denotes a principled renunciation of worldly pleasures for spiritual discipline across many faiths, or prudery, which implies an affected, often personal, modesty regarding sex, puritanism is a comprehensive, doctrine-based system of moral austerity. It is the plain grey wool of the sermon-goer, the stark whitewash over the church fresco, and the relentless scrutiny of one’s own soul for the faintest stain of pleasure—a conviction that grace is found not in beauty, but in its chilling absence.
Etymology
Borrowed from French puritanisme, equivalent to puritan + -ism.
noun
- Strict and austere religious conduct.
- Extreme strictness regarding moral scruples.“2016 October 17, Vicky Spratt, "Work Hard, Work Hard:Meet The Neo-Puritans", Graziadaily.cohttp://graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/work-hard-work-hard-meet-neo-puritans
Some have argued that the closure of Fabric is symptomatic of a wider shift towards a new puritanism in Britain: a culture in which fun, hedonism and cultural experimentation are no longer valued.”
- The beliefs and practices of the Puritans.
Down the rabbit hole
Every word is a door. Follow one.