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chasten
/ ˈtʃeɪsən /
verb
- to bring to a state of submission; subdue; tame
- to discipline or correct by punishment
- to moderate; restrain; temper
Derived Forms
- ˈchasteningly, adverb
- ˈchastener, noun
Other Words From
- chasten·er noun
- chasten·ing·ly adverb
- chasten·ment noun
- un·chastened adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of chasten1
Example Sentences
The latter though... guilty as charged, and it condemned them to a chastening seven-wicket defeat against their oldest enemy at Trent Bridge in the first game of a five-match series.
On the French Open clay, a dejected Draper was particularly demonstrative in a chastening first-round defeat by Dutchman Jesper de Jong.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says he is "not Harry Potter", and is adamant his side have a great chance to lift a trophy this season despite their chastening 3-0 home defeat by Liverpool.
For Sri Lanka, this was a chastening day, one that left them ruing their decision to bowl first.
There is no shame in that - but there was a gulf between the teams when measured in class and creativity that was stark and chastening.
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Related Words
More About Chasten
What does chasten mean?
To chasten is to discipline, punish, or severely criticize, especially with the intention of improving someone’s behavior.
Chasten has many shades of meaning that are all somewhat similar. It can mean to tame or subdue, or to moderate or restrain someone’s behavior. In all cases, it typically involves some form of discipline or negative consequences for the person being chastened.
Chasten is a relatively formal word, and so are its close synonyms (like chastise, castigate, and reprimand), but it’s probably used less commonly than they are.
It’s often associated with Christian or other religious language due to its use in some translations of the Bible.
Example: My grandfather grew up in a boarding school, where he was chastened for even the most minor infractions.
Where does chasten come from?
The first records of chasten come from the 1520s. It comes from the French chastier, ultimately from the Latin castigāre, meaning “correct” or “punish,” or, more literally, “to drive to faultlessness” or “to compel to be pure.” The synonyms chastise and castigate also come from the same root.
The word chastise especially refers to corporal punishment, meaning physical violence used as punishment. No doubt, the word chasten has also been used to refer to such punishment throughout its history, and the word still implies some amount of suffering from the discipline being used. However, as the word is used today, that discipline typically refers to things like harsh scolding or other nonphysical punishments intended to get the recipient to stop behavior considered immoral or otherwise bad, as in My mother chastens me for my temper by making me think about what I do whenever I lose it. A temper itself can be chastened, or moderated. Similarly, chasten can also mean “to restrain or subdue,” as in Maturity has chastened my hastiness.
Did you know … ?
What are some other forms related to chasten?
- chastener (noun)
- chasteningly (adverb)
- chastenment (noun)
- unchastened (adjective)
What are some synonyms for chasten?
What are some words that share a root or word element with chasten?
What are some words that often get used in discussing chasten?
How is chasten used in real life?
Chasten is a formal word that’s less commonly used than some of its synonyms, like chastise and reprimand. It’s sometimes used in religious contexts, especially in Bible verses.
I watched a doctor chasten some nurses. I should have said something, but I quietly observed. The doctor 's demands would improve outcomes for his patient, but that was lost in his tantrum. If I am ever in this situation I hope I chose to educate instead of humiliate.
— Mimi 18% certified organic carbon 1% chemical x (@mimidancer) January 3, 2018
The spartan productions that followed not only redefined what a Broadway show could be but also became symbolic of the challenges and triumphs of making art in a New York chastened by the 2008 financial crisis. https://t.co/Rr4LqCKYXc
— 🦩Blake Deadly🦩 (@blakepruitt) April 17, 2020
“Behold, happy is the man whom God reproves; therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty.”
— Job 5.17
— RSV Catholic Edition (@RSV_CE) April 22, 2020
Try using chasten!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of chasten?
A. rebuke
B. upbraid
C. scold
D. praise
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