n. 1 (Puritan) hist. member of a group of English Protestants who sought to simplify and regulate forms of worship after the Reformation. 2 purist member of any party. 3 strict observer of religion or morals. adj. 1 (Puritan) hist. of the Puritans. 2 scrupulous and austere in religion or morals. puritanism n. [Latin: related to PURE]
