chastity

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe quality of being chaste: the state of abstaining from any sexual activity considered immoral; avoidance of sexual sins.

   virtue and chastity

   2 more examples

   The monk took a vow of chastity.

   In Catholic doctrine, the virtue of chastity is taken to be the principal foil to everyone's favourite deadly sin, lust.

   2010, The Guardian, Celibacy: whose bright idea was that?, 29 May 2010

   Synonyms: chasteness

In a sentence

The monk took a vow of chastity.

Where it comes from

1. Latincastitas
2. Old Frenchchasteté
3. Middle Englishchastite
4. Englishchastity

From Middle English chastite, from Old French chasteté, a semi-learned adaptation of Latin castitas, equivalent to chaste + -ity.