chasm 
ing made by disruption, as a breach in the 
earth or a rock ; a cleft ; a fissure ; a gap ; es- 
pecially, a wide and deep cleft. 
That deep romantic chasm which slanted down the 
green hill. Culeriil'jr. 
The little elves of chasm and cleft. 
Tennysint, Ouinevere. 
Hence 2. An interruption; a hiatus; any 
marked breach of continuity. 
There is a whole chapter wanting here, and a chasm of 
ten paes made in the hunk by it. 
Sterne, Tristram Shandy, iv. 25. 
There are great c/imx in his facts. 
Jefferson, Correspondence, II. (Hi. 
The bloody chasm, a rhetorical phrase used for .-..me 
time after the civil war of 18ol-o5 to designate the divi- 
sion between the North and the South produced by the war. 
[li. S.| 
chasma (kaz'mii), n. [L. : see chasm.'] If. A 
chasm. l>r. JJ."More. 2. In jinthul., an attitck 
of yawning; a succession of yawns. 
chasmed (kaztud), a. [< cliasiu + -erf-.] Hav- 
ing a gap or chasm : as, a chasnied hill. [Bare.] 
chasmogamy (kaz-mog'a-mi), n. [< Gr. ^da/^a, 
opening, chasm, + 7 d/jof, marriage.] In hot., the 
opening of the perianth at the maturity of the 
flower: distinguished from rlisttttiamy, in which 
fertilization is effected while the flower re- 
mains closed. 
Chasmorhynchus (kas-mo-ring'kus), n. [NL. 
(Temininck, 1820, in the improper form Cas- 
marhyiichus), < Gr. x^ a f"l> a yawning, + piyxw, 
snout, beak.] A genus of fruit-crows of South 
America, of the family Cotiiigida;, including 
the bell-birds, averanos, orarapungas, of which 
there are several species, as C. variegatus, C. 
nitdicolliti, C. niveus, and C. tricanmculatus. See 
cut under arapunga. 
chasmy(kaz'mi), a. [< chasm + -y 1 .] Abound- 
ing with chasms. [Rare.] 
The chasmy torrent's foam-lit bed. Wordsworth. 
chasselas (shas'e-las), n. [From Chasselas, a 
village near Macon, France, where a fine vari- 
ety is grown.] A white grape, highly esteemed 
for the table. 
chasse-maree (shas'ma-ra'), [F., < chasser, 
chase, + mari-e (> It. marea), tide, ult. < L. 
mare, sea: see mere 1 , marine. See chase 1 , v.] 
A French shallop or coasting-vessel, generally 
lugger-rigged and with two or three masts. 
chassepot (shas'po), n. [F., after Ckattepvt, 
the inventor, born 1833.] The breech-loading 
rifle officially introduced into the French army 
in 1866-68. 
chasseur (sha-ser'), [F., a huntsman, < 
chasser, hunt, chase : see chase 1 , r., and cha- 
ser 1 .] 1. A huntsman. 2. A soldier, speeifl- 
cally (a) In the eighteenth century, a soldier chosen 
with others to form a company of light troops attached 
to a battalion. (6) In modern times, one of a body of light 
troops designed for rapid movements, especially in pur- 
suit of an enemy. In the French army there are both 
mounted and foot chasseurs. 
3. A domestic in the households of persons of 
rank in Europe, who wears a huntsman's or a 
semi-military livery, and performs the duties 
of a footman. 
The great chasseur who had announced her arrival. 
Irving. 
chassis (shas'is), n. [< F. chassis, < chdsxe, a 
frame : see c/iose 2 .] A kind of traversing frame 
or movable railway, on which the carriages of 
guns move backward and forward in action. 
chaste (chast), a. [< ME. chaste, chast,< OF. 
chaste, caste, F. chaste = Pr. cast Sp. Pg. It. 
casto, < L. castus, chaste, pure, for "cadtus, akin 
to Gr. KaBapof, Dor. noBapof, pure : see cathar- 
tic; cf. Skt. cuddha, pure, pp., < / cudlt or 
fundh, purify.] 1. Possessing chastity or sex- 
ual purity ; continent ; virtuous ; pure. 
That they may teach the young women to love their chil- 
dren, to b discreet, chaste, keepers at home. Tit. ii. 4, 5. 
Early, bright, transient, chaste as morning dew, 
She sparkled, was exhaled, and went to heaven. 
Young, Night Thought*, v. 600. 
2f. Celibate; unmarried. 
Iblessid be God that I have weddid fyve : 
Welcome the sixte whan that ever he scbal ! 
Forsothe I nyl not kepe me chast in al. 
Chaucer, Prol. to Wife of Bath's Tale, 1. 46. 
3. Free from obscenity or impurity: as, chaste 
conversation. 4. In a figurative sense: (a) 
As applied to language and literary style, free 
from uncouth or equivocal words and phrases, 
and from affected or extravagant expressions ; 
not affected or grandiloquent. 
That great model of chaste, lofty, and pathetic eloquence, 
the Book of Common Prayer. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., x. 
(6) In art, free from meretricious ornament or 
affectation; severely simple. 
935 
Her thick brown hair . . . seemed to drape her head 
with a covering as chaxtt and formal as the veil of a nun. 
//. ./,/ ,..', -If., 1'ass. Pilgrim, p 
Chaste week, tin- eck u--inmng with ijninqini).'esiiiia 
Sunday: so named from the injunction to observe sli i.'t 
continence at this time. Also called Cleansing mum. 
= Syn. 4. simple, classic, relined. 
chastet, <' t. [< ME. chasten, rhaxtirii, (/<(.<///<, 
often (without inf. suffix -en) chant;/, chasli, < 
OF. fhnxlii r, rcx/iVr. F. chatter = Pr. castiar, 
i-haxliar = Sp. Pg. castigar = It. castigarc (also 
introduced as an ecclesiastical word into early 
Tent., OH(i. cliisti/ji'in, MHG. kexttiji-n, knxti<i<-n, 
G. kanteieu = I), hastydm), < 1.. i-nxtinari; make 
pure, chasten, chastise : see castigate and r/i (/.-- 
tixi; and cf. rhasten 1 .] 1. To chasten ; disci- 
pline ; punish ; chastise. See chasten 1 and chas- 
tise, which have taken the place of this verb. 
The aid William un-lawfulli chatted liym, in brusyng 
of his at an- and broke his hedd. 
Kntilixh (ii/'/s(E. E. T. $.), p. 322. 
I ne henle never in my lyve 
Old maii cluutii jong wyf. 
8 r. n >.'/.- (ed. Wright), 1. 1664. 
By the whelp chatted is the leonn. 
Chaitfi; Squire's Tale, 1. 483. 
2. To reduce to submission ; tame. 
They were the ttrste that chaxtede hors and ladde hem 
with IJrj dels. Trrrisa, tr. Higden's Polychronicon, II. 357. 
3. To bring or keep under control ; restrain, as 
the passions. 
Luke nowe for charitee. thow chanty thy lyppes, 
That the no wordez eschape, whate so be-tydez ; 
Luke that presantc be priste, and presse hyin bott lytille. 
ilurte Arthurs (E. E. T. 8.), 1. 1019. 
With loue and awe till wyfe tholl chantiis, 
And late feyre wordes lie thi 3erd [yard, rod]. 
Booke of Precedence (E. E. T. S., extra ser.), i. 53. 
chaste-eyed (chast'id), a. Having chaste or 
modest eyes. 
The oak-crown'd sisters and their chaste-eyeit queen. 
Collins, Ode on the Passions. 
chastelaint. [ME., also spelled chartlayn, 
etc., chasteleyne, <OF. chastelain, cartelein, m., 
chartelaine, t., mod. F. chdtelain, m., cMtelaine, 
(.: see chatelaine.'] A castellan; a castellan's 
wife : with reference to the rank. 
Now am I knyght, now chantelene. 
Horn, of the Rate, 1. 6330. 
chastelett, . [ME., < OF. chastelet, dim. of 
chastel, a castle : see castle, eastellet.] A castle. 
The erldome of enuye and wratthe togideres, 
With the chaatelet of chest and chateryng-oute-of-resoun. 
Piers Plowman (B), ii. 84. 
chastely (chast ' li), ado. [ME. chastliche, < 
chaste + -liche, -ly 2 .] In a chaste manner, (a) 
With sexual purity ; purely. (6) Without obscenity ; de- 
cently, (c) Without barbarisms or uncouth phrases ; taste- 
fully : as, a composition chastely written. 
The style [Bryant's) always pure, clear, and forcible, and 
often chastely elegant. D. J. Hill, Bryant, p. 171. 
(<0 Without meretricious ornament ; not gaudily : as, a 
picture chastely designed. 
chasten 1 (cha'sn), r. t. [< chaste, a., + -en 1 . 
See chaste, i:, and chastise.] 1. To inflict 
pain, trouble, or affliction on for the purpose 
of reclaiming from evil; correct; chastise; 
punish : formerly of corporal punishment, but 
now, chiefly with a moral reference, of discipli- 
nary affliction. [Now rarely or never used for 
chastise in a physical sense.] 
If he commit iniquity, I will chanten him with the rod 
of men. 2 Sam. vii. 14. 
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Rev. iii. 19. 
And fear not, Enid, I should fall upon him, 
Who love you, Prince, with something of the love 
Wherewith we love the Heaven that chastens us. 
Tennyson, Oeraint. 
2. To purify by discipline, as the taste ; refine ; 
make chaste: as, to chasten the imagination, 
the taste, or one's style. 
They [classics] chasten and enlarge the mind and excite 
to noble actions. Layard. 
It is certainly the duty of every one who has a good 
telescope, a sharp eye, and a chastened imagination, to 
watch them [the rings of Saturn] carefully, and set down 
exactly what he sees. Pop. Sci. Mo., XXVI. 56. 
= Syn. 1. Punish, etc. See chastise. 
chasten 2 !, See chesten. 
chastener (chas'ner), . One who or that which 
chastens. 
In our day, the great chastener and corrector of all in- 
vestigation, and of the whole business of inference from 
the known to the unknown, is scientific inquiry into the 
facts of nature. Maine, Village Communities, p. 327. 
chasteness (chast'nes), n. [< chaste + -ness.] 
The state or quality of being chaste. 
chastening (chas'uing), p. a. [Pj>r. of chasten 1 , 
r.] Corrective by means of punishment or dis- 
cipline. 
The father's chastening hand. Rome. 
The tyrant is altered, by a cAcmftm'/w affliction, into a 
pensive moralist. Uacaulay, Dryden. 
chastity 
chaste-tree (chust'tre), . The I'itujc Ayitus- 
i-axtitx. Sec iiifiiiix cnxliix, iinilcr 111/1111.1. 
chastiet, . '. Sec (//*/<. 
chastisablel clms-ti'za-bl), a. [< eluistisi + -able.] 
Deserving chastisement. >/K ///.../. [Kare.] 
chastise (chas-tiz'), r. i.; pret. and pp. Suutded. 
ppr. elin.ttixiiii/. [OIK. <-li<i.iti*<n, an extended 
form with suffix -isfn, -ixr, of fhnxtii-n, chasten: 
see chuxli; /.. ami cf. r/iox/c;/ 1 . ] 1. To inflict 
pain upon by stripes, blows, or otherwise, for 
the purpose of punishing and recalling to duty ; 
punish for the purpose of amending; correct 
or reclaim by punishment. 
Let the wines kccpe their husbands secrets, or else let 
them be c/isti>(', and kept in In. us. an. I bed. till they In- 
better. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 207. 
How fine ray master is! I am afraid 
He will chastise me. Shalt., Tempest, v. 1. 
Heaven is nut always angry when he strikes, 
BUt most <r/(/(Vx tl nholll llll.st he like-i. 
/(.in//.'/, To Iii- Kri.'ii.l in Affliction. 
2f. To discipline ; instruct ; correct the errors 
or faults of. 
And so atte the In-gymiing a man ought to lerne his 
doughters with good ensanmples, yeungeasdede the.iueii.' 
Proues of Hongrie, that faire and goodly chastised and 
taught her doiiuhters, as it [is] contend! in her Imkc. 
Book of the Knight of La Tour Landry, p. 2. 
3f. To reduce to submission ; tame. 
TliUke men chastised and temede hors flrste with brideh. 
Trevisa, tr. of Higden's Polychronicon, I. 187. 
4. To restrain or refine by discipline; free from 
faults or excesses. [In this sense now chasten.] 
Behold the beauty of her person chastised by the inno- 
cence of her thoughts. Steele, Spectator, No. 4. 
The gay social sense, by decency chastised. Thomson. 
= Syn. 1. Punish, Chasten, Chastise. To jrunish is pri- 
marily and chiefly to inflict pain upon, as a retribution for 
misdeeds, the notion of improving the offender being absent 
..i-quite -ul.oi ilnute. Chasten, on the other hand, implies 
that the reformation of the offender is the aim of the pun- 
ishment inflicted. The word is not now often used of hu- 
man acts; it is a biblical word for the providential disci- 
pline of man: as, "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth" 
(Heb. xiL 6); and such expressions as " the duutmtao in- 
fluence of sorrow " are in use. Chastise Is a dignified word 
for corporal punishment, combining in nearly equal de- 
grees the notions of desert and correction. 
The spirits perverse 
With easy intercourse pass to and fro 
To tempt or punish mortals. 
Mitton, P. L., ii. 1032. 
That good God who chastens whom he loves. 
Southey, Ma.l. ie. I. iii. 163. 
1'nder whose warrant I impeach thy wrong, 
And by whose help I mean to chastise it. 
Shak., K. John, ii. 1. 
chastisement (ehas'tiz-ment), H. [< ME. chas- 
tisement; < chastise + -merit.] Correction; pun- 
ishment ; pain or suffering inflicted for punish- 
ment and correction. 
I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more. 
Job xxxiv. 31. 
Shall I so much dishonour my fair stars, 
On equal terms to give him chastisement! 
Shale., Rich. II., IT. 1. 
chastiser (chas-ti'zer), n. One who chastises; 
a punisher ; a corrector. 
A chastiser of too big a confidence. 
Jer. Taylnr, Holy Dying, v. 3. 
chastity (chas'ti-ti), n. [< ME. chastite, chas- 
tfte, < OF. cliiisieit, chastetf, F. chastete' Pr. 
castitat, castetat = Sp. castidad = Pg. caxtidade 
= It. castita, < L. castita(t-)s, < castus, chaste: 
see chaste, a.] 1. The state or quality of being 
chaste ; the state of being guiltless of unlawful 
sexual intercourse ; sexual purity. 
Who can be lM>und by any solemn vow . . . 
To force a stnjtless virgin's chastity ? 
Shale., -2 Hen. VI., v. 1. 
2f. Celibacy; the unmarried state. 
I -dial for evermore, 
Emforth my might, thi trewe servaunt be, 
And holdeu werre alway with chastite. 
Chaucer, Knight's Tale, 1. 1378. 
The forenamed church . . . was wont to be occupied of 
old time by married men and hereditary succession ; the 
Lateral! Council held at that time [A. 1). 1215] preventing 
it, by imposing chastity upon all clerks and rectors of 
churches. 
"De Statu Blaabornshire," quoted in Raines, Hist. Lan- 
[cashire, II. 1 
3. Abstinence from lawful indulgence of sex- 
ual intercourse ; continence due to a religious 
motive. [Rare.] 
Chastity is either abstinence or continence ; abstinence 
is that of virgins or widows ; continence of married per- 
sons. J*r. Taylor. 
4. Freedom from obscenity, depravity, or im- 
purity, as in thought, language, or life ; moral 
purity. 
That chastity of honour which felt a stain like a wound. 
Burke, Kev. in France. 
