puritan ethic
1
8.8
- noun
- /ˈpjʊərɪtən ˈɛθɪk/
:
ética puritana
- In many ways, the strict principles of the Puritan ethic shaped early American values and lifestyles.
Examples
-
Such mental violence is what is left of our Puritan ethic.
Fiction book (1991) -
But warnings of an energy crisis and fuel station shutdowns have caused even those of us brought up in the puritan ethic tradition of American capitalism to doubt the future of our Chevy Nova funds.
Blog text (23) -
The Puritan ethic emphasizes hard work and a commitment to self-discipline over the pursuit of pleasure.
-
She was raised with a Puritan ethic that discouraged indulgence and promoted frugality in everyday life.
Synonyms
2
9.5
A strict moral and religious way of living that values self-control
Antonyms
How Puritanical
- Formal
3
9.4
1
8.8
1
4.9
26
4.6
2
6.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'Puritan' names a group with specific beliefs and 'ethic' means a moral code or set of values, so together they straightforwardly mean the moral code associated with Puritans. This noun–noun modifier pattern is a standard, cross-linguistic way to form such concepts, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reliably infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The phrase puritan ethic comes from the Puritans, a strict religious group who believed that hard work, self-control and simple living showed a person was good. So, 'puritan ethic' now means a strict moral code, an ethic that values hard work and avoids pleasure.