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casuist
[ kazh-oo-ist ]
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.
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
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Derived Forms
- ˌcasuˈistically, adverb
- ˌcasuˈistic, adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of casuist1
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Example Sentences
Mr. Tallmadge's desire not to be interrupted in the act might have enlightened him as to its defensibility; but he was no casuist.
She would have made a good man of business—an acute lawyer—a fine casuist—a great divine.
No interpretation509 can mistake it; no casuist can doubt upon it; it is a work well done.
The city casuist might have smiled at the major premise—and laughed at the ingenuous conclusion.
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.
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