Dictionary
Pu•ri•tan•ism
Pronunciation: (pyoor'i-tn-iz"um), [key]—
n.
1. the principles and practices of the Puritans.
2. (sometimes l.c.) extreme strictness in moral or religious matters, often to excess; rigid austerity.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.