Both Uses of
chaste
in
The Screwtape Letters
- I should like it once, for if we can't use his sexuality to make him unchaste we must try to use it for promotion of a desirable marriage.†
Chpt 20unchaste = sexually experienced or active; or involving sexual desirestandard prefix: The prefix "un-" in unchaste means not and reverses the meaning of chaste. This is the same pattern you see in words like unhappy, unknown, and unlucky.
- A chastity or honesty, or mercy, which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions.†
Chpt 29 *chaste = not having sexual intercourse (ever, outside of marriage, or for a long time); or not involving sexual desire
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) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Much less commonly, chaste can refer to an unornamented simple style.