Chastening

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Chasten \Chas"ten\ (ch[=a]"s'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Chastened}
     (-s'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Chastening}.] [OE. chastien, OF.
     Chastier, F. Ch?tier, fr. L. castigare to punish, chastise;
     castus pure + agere to lead, drive. See {Chaste}, {Act}, and
     cf. {Castigate}, {Chastise}.]
     1. To correct by punishment; to inflict pain upon the purpose


        of reclaiming; to discipline; as, to chasten a son with a
        rod.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. --Heb. xii.
                                                    6.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To purify from errors or faults; to refine.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              They [classics] chasten and enlarge the mind, and
              excite to noble actions.              --Layard.
  
     Syn: To chastise; punish; correct; discipline; castigate;
          afflict; subdue; purify.
  
     Usage: 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.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  chastening
       n : a rebuke for making a mistake [syn: {correction}, {chastisement}]