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/dʒˈɛʒuɪt/ Listen

noun

Jesuit n.

(R. C. Ch.) One of a religious order founded by Ignatius Loyola, and approved in 1540, under the title of The Society of Jesus. Note: The order consists of Scholastics, the Professed, the Spiritual Coadjutors, and the Temporal Coadjutors or Lay Brothers. The Jesuit novice after two years becomes a Scholastic, and takes his first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience simply. Some years after, at the close of a second novitiate, he takes his second vows and is ranked among the Coadjutors or Professed. The Professed are bound by a fourth vow, from which only the pope can dispense, requiring them to go wherever the pope may send them for missionary duty. The Coadjutors teach in the schools, and are employed in general missionary labors. The Society is governed by a General who holds office for life. He has associated with him "Assistants" (five at the present time), representing different provinces. The Society was first established in the United States in 1807. The Jesuits have displayed in their enterprises a high degree of zeal, learning, and skill, but, by their enemies, have been generally reputed to use art and intrigue in promoting or accomplishing their purposes, whence the words Jesuit, Jesuitical, and the like, have acquired an opprobrious sense.

Fig.: A crafty person; an intriguer.

Jesuits' bark, Peruvian bark, or the bark of certain species of Cinchona; so called because its medicinal properties were first made known in Europe by Jesuit missionaries to South America.

Jesuits' drops. See Friar's balsam, under Friar.

Jesuits' nut, the European water chestnut.

Jesuits' powder, powdered cinchona bark.

Jesuits' tea, a Chilian leguminous shrub, used as a tea and medicinally.

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Etymology of 'Jesuit'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Jesuit" Quotes from Famous Books

... made no effort to decorate his domestic poverty. All his belongings were of a simple sort and his room was as bare as a Jesuit's. Moreover, his affairs, being at times highly particular, did not admit of the presence of a janitor in his quarters, and he was of necessity his own janitor. His iron bed was spread with a pair of Pullman blankets, his toilet arrangements included nothing more elaborate ...

— Whispering Smith • Frank H. Spearman

... God's-acre bear name after name once carried with pride on the rolls of the American, British or French naval and merchantman services, and diplomatic and consular titles are recorded on more than one headstone. It is interesting to scale the steps to inspect closely the facade of the Jesuit church of San Paulo, erected some three hundred years ago. Nothing remains but the towering facade, as erect as if reared yesterday, and bearing silent testimony to the courage of the pioneers in the Far East of the Catholic faith. A 'rickshaw journey through every important street, ...

— East of Suez - Ceylon, India, China and Japan • Frederic Courtland Penfield

... bestow on the good fathers a double portion of gratitude, for they imported the Quinquina yet known as "Jesuit's bark." ...

— The Physiology of Taste • Brillat Savarin

... a striking difference," said Master Freake. "I am no Jesuit, however, and cannot decide cases of conscience. I deal with business problems only, which are all cut and dry, legal and formal. When I make a promise in the way of business I always keep it precisely and punctually, for the penalty of failure to do so ...

— The Yeoman Adventurer • George W. Gough

... Europe, the Celestial Empire had its admirers and prophets as full of enthusiasm as Sir W. Jones and Lieutenant Wilford, and there was nothing, whether Greek philosophy or Christian morality, that was not supposed to have had its first origin among the sages of China. The proceedings of the Jesuit missionaries in China were most extraordinary. They had themselves admitted the antiquity of the writings of Confucius and Lao-tse, both of whom lived in the sixth century B. C.(66) But in their zeal to show that the sacred books of the Chinese ...

— Chips From A German Workshop, Vol. V. • F. Max Mueller

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