casuist

[ kazh-oo-ist ]

/ ˈkæʒ u ɪst /

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noun

an oversubtle or disingenuous reasoner, especially in questions of morality.

a person who studies and resolves moral problems of judgment or conduct arising in specific situations.

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Origin of casuist

1600–10; <Spanish casuista<Latin cāsu(s) case¹ + -ista-ist

Words nearby casuist

casually, casualty, casualty insurance, casualwear, casuarina, casuist, casuistic, casuistry, casus belli, cat, cata-

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How to use casuist in a sentence

Mr. Tallmadge's desire not to be interrupted in the act might have enlightened him as to its defensibility; but he was no casuist.
The Open Question|Elizabeth Robins
She would have made a good man of business—an acute lawyer—a fine casuist—a great divine.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXVIII. February, 1843. Vol. LIII.|Various
No interpretation509 can mistake it; no casuist can doubt upon it; it is a work well done.
A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention|Lucius Eugene Chittenden
The city casuist might have smiled at the major premise—and laughed at the ingenuous conclusion.
McClure's Magazine, January, 1896, Vol. VI. No. 2|Various

Many others are put so as to suggest what the casuist never said, that is a special case is made a general rule of morals.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921|Thomas J. Campbell

British Dictionary definitions for casuist

casuist

/ (ˈkæzjʊɪst) /

noun

a person, esp a theologian, who attempts to resolve moral dilemmas by the application of general rules and the careful distinction of special cases

a person who is oversubtle in his or her analysis of fine distinctions; sophist

Derived forms of casuist

casuistic or casuistical, adjectivecasuistically, adverb

Word Origin for casuist

C17: from French casuiste, from Spanish casuista, from Latin cāsus case 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

casuist

Origin of casuist

Words nearby casuist

Words related to casuist

How to use casuist in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for casuist

Derived forms of casuist

Word Origin for casuist