Chās'ten, v. t.

(chā'sn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. CHASTENED; p. pr. & vb. n. CHASTENING.] [O. H. Ger. castigon, chastigon, M. H. Ger. kastigen, kastigen, N. H. Ger. kasteien, D. kastijden, Armor. casteien, O. Fr. chastier, N. Fr. chatier, from Lat. castigare, to punish, chastise, from castus, pure, and agere, to lead, drive. See CHASTISE.] 1. To correct by punishment; to inflict pain upon for the purpose of reclaiming; to chastise; as, to chasten a son with a rod. I will chasten him with the rod of men. 2 Sam. vii. 14. 2. To purify from errors or faults. They [classics] chasten and enlarge the mind, and excite to noble actions. Layard. Syn.—To chastise; punish; correct; afflict.—TO CHASTEN, PUNISH, CHASTISE. Punish and chasten differ in the object aimed at. The former is designed to uphold law by the infliction of penalty; the latter is intended, by kind correction, to prevent the repetition of faults and to reclaim the offender. Chasten, in its earlier meaning as found in the Scriptures, had the same sense as chastise. At present, however, it more commonly denotes to punish publicly with stripes, and with a view to disgrace. I follow thee, safe guide, the path Thou lead'st me, and to the hand of Heaven submit, However chastening. Milton. The name of Cassius honors this corruption, And chastisement doth therefore hide its head. Shak.