All 3 Uses of
chaste
in
The Winter's Tale
- —You, my lord, best know,— Who least will seem to do so,—my past life Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true, As I am now unhappy: which is more Than history can pattern, though devis'd And play'd to take spectators; for behold me,— A fellow of the royal bed, which owe A moiety of the throne, a great king's daughter, The mother to a hopeful prince,—here standing To prate and talk for life and honour 'fore Who please to come and hear.†
Scene 3.2chaste = not having sexual intercourse (ever, outside of marriage, or for a long time); or not involving sexual desire
- 'Hermione is chaste; Polixenes blameless; Camillo a true subject; Leontes a jealous tyrant; his innocent babe truly begotten; and the king shall live without an heir, if that which is lost be not found.'†
Scene 3.2
- The gods themselves, Humbling their deities to love, have taken The shapes of beasts upon them: Jupiter Became a bull and bellow'd; the green Neptune A ram and bleated; and the fire-rob'd god, Golden Apollo, a poor humble swain, As I seem now:—their transformations Were never for a piece of beauty rarer,— Nor in a way so chaste, since my desires Run not before mine honour, nor my lusts Burn hotter than my faith.†
Scene 4.4 *
Definitions:
-
(1)
(chaste as in: remained chaste) not having sex; or not involving sexual desireThe exact meaning of not having sex depends upon context. It can mean
- to be a virgin (never have sex)
- to be sexually inactive currently or for a long time
- to not have sex outside of marriage
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) Much less commonly, chaste can refer to an unornamented simple style.