Pu"ri*ty (?), n. [OE. purete, purte, OF. purt'e, F. puret'e, from L. puritas, fr. purus pure. See Pure.]

The condition of being pure.

Specifically: (a)

freedom from foreign admixture or deleterious matter; as, the purity of water, of wine, of drugs, of metals.

(b)

Cleanness; freedom from foulness or dirt.

"The purity of a linen vesture." Holyday. (c)

Freedom from guilt or the defilement of sin; innocence; chastity; as, purity of heart or of life.

(d)

Freedom from any sinister or improper motives or views.

(e)

Freedom from foreign idioms, or from barbarous or improper words or phrases; as, purity of style.

 

© Webster 1913.

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