casuist
pronunciation
How to pronounce casuist in British English:
UK ['kæzjʊɪst]
How to pronounce casuist in American English:
US ['kæzjʊɪst]
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- Noun:
- someone whose reasoning is subtle and often specious
Word Origin
- casuist (n.)
- 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. Casuistry ... destroys, by distinctions and exceptions, all morality, and effaces the essential difference between right and wrong. [Bolingbroke, 1736]