Crossword clues for casuist
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Casuist \Cas"u*ist\, v. i.
To play the casuist.
--Milton.
Casuist \Cas"u*ist\, n. [L. casus fall, case; cf. F. casuiste. See Casual.] One who is skilled in, or given to, casuistry.
The judment of any casuist or learned divine concerning
the state of a man's soul, is not sufficient to give
him confidence.
--South.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
c.1600, "one who studies and resolves cases of conscience," from French casuiste (17c.) or Spanish casuista (the French word also might be from Spanish), Italian casista, all from Latin casus (see case (n.1)) in its Medieval Latin sense "case of conscience." Often since 17c. in a sinister or contemptuous sense. Related: Casuistic; casuistical; casuistically; casuistry.\nCasuistry ... destroys, by distinctions and exceptions, all morality, and effaces the essential difference between right and wrong. [Bolingbroke, 1736]
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context ethics English) A person who resolves cases of conscience or moral duty. 2 Someone who attempts to specify exact and precise rules for the direction of every circumstance of behavior. 3 One who is skilled in, or given to, casuistry.
WordNet
n. someone whose reasoning is subtle and often specious [syn: sophist]
Usage examples of "casuist".
Whether it would or not I must leave to more skilled casuists than myself to decide.
Can ecclesiastical casuists decide upon cases of conscience affecting men of the world?
It is remarkable that the moral decisions of the JESUITS and other relaxed casuists, were commonly formed in prosecution of some such subtilties of reasoning as are here pointed out, and proceed as much from the habit of scholastic refinement as from any corruption of the heart, if we may follow the authority of Mons.
Each must be her own casuist, and without any criterion save what she can establish by her own experience.
At every tea-table his name was occasionally put to the torture, with that of the vile creature whom he had seduced, though it was generally taken for granted by all those female casuists, that she must have made the first advances, for it could not be supposed that any man would take much trouble in laying schemes for the ruin of a person whose attractions were so slender, especially considering the ill state of her health, a circumstance that seldom adds to a woman's beauty or good-humour.
I say more plainly, if any preacher, Confessor, or Casuist, shal but say that this doctrin is agreeable with Gods word, namely, That the chief ruler, nay any private man may lawfully be put to death without the chiefes command, or that Subjects may resist, conspire, or covenant against the supreme power, that ye by no means beleeve them, but instantly declare their names.
The more rigid and inflexible casuists refused them forever, and without exception, the meanest place in the holy community, which they had disgraced or deserted.