Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHAS'TEN, v.t. [cha'sn; Fr. châtier, for chastier; Arm. castien; Russ. chischu.]

1. To correct by punishment; to punish; to inflict pain for the purpose of reclaiming an offender; as, to chasten a son with a rod. I will chasten him with the rod of men. – 2 Sam. vii.
2. To afflict by other means. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. – Rev. iii. I chastened my soul with fasting. – Ps. lxix.
3. To purify from errors or faults.