chasten Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb censure severely
    objurgate; chastise; castigate; correct.
    • She chastised him for his insensitive remarks
  2. verb restrain
    moderate; temper.
  3. verb correct by punishment or discipline
    subdue; tame.

WordNet

Chas"ten transitive verb
Etymology
OE. chastien, OF. Chastier, F. Chtier, fr. L. castigare to punish, chastise; castus pure + agere to lead, drive. See Chaste, Act, and cf. Castigate, Chastise.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Chastened ; present participle & verbal noun Chastening
Definitions
  1. To correct by punishment; to inflict pain upon the purpose of reclaiming; to discipline; as, to chasten a son with a rod.
    For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. Heb. xii. 6.
  2. To purify from errors or faults; to refine.
    They [classics] chasten and enlarge the mind, and excite to noble actions. Layard.
    Syn. -- To chastise; punish; correct; discipline; castigate; afflict; subdue; purify. To Chasten, Punish, Chastise. To chasten is to subject to affliction or trouble, in order to produce a general change for the better in life or character. To punish is to inflict penalty for violation of law, disobedience to authority, or intentional wrongdoing. To chastise is to punish a particular offense, as with stripes, especially with the hope that suffering or disgrace may prevent a repetition of faults.

Webster 1913