[f. CHASTE v. + -EN2: taking the place of the earlier CHASTE v.]
1. trans. To inflict disciplinary or corrective punishment on; to visit with affliction for the purpose of moral improvement; to correct, discipline, chastise. (Usually of Divine chastisement.)
1526. Tindale, Hebr. xii. 6. Whom the Lorde loveth, him he chasteneth.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, IV. i. 96. He shall by this meanes chasten the vnruly and disobedient.
1611. Bible, Ps. cxviii. 18. The Lord hath chastened me sore. Ibid., Dan. x. 12. Thou diddest set thine heart to vnderstand, and to chasten thy selfe before thy God.
1859. Tennyson, Enid, 1637. The love Wherewith we love the Heaven that chastens us.
† 2. To punish, chastise (generally). Obs.
1526. Tindale, Luke xxiii. 16. I will therfore chasten him and let him lowsse.
c. 1534. trans. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (1846), I. 160. He overcamme him and chastened him with crewell death.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 437. That your Majestie would cause them to be chastened, which were the causes of their vexation.
3. To render chaste or pure in character or style; to purify, refine. (Cf. CHASTE a. 8.)
1715. trans. Pancirollus’ Mem. Th., I. IV. x. 190. The Ancients … were wont to strain their Snow … to chasten their Wine.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Lit., Wks. (Bohn), II. 104. A good writer … makes haste to chasten and nerve his period by English monosyllables.
4. fig. To restrain from excess or intensity; to moderate, temper, subdue. (Cf. CHASTE a. 7)
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xx. 246. I am not as sanguine as I was—time and experience have chastened me.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. ii. 110. The feuds of the families had been chastened, if they had not been subdued.
1884. Browning, Ferishtah (1885), 318. Reflected possibilities of pain, Forsooth, just chasten pleasure!
