JESUITS
Noun
Jesuits
plural of Jesuit
Source: Wiktionary
JESUIT
Jes"u*it, n. Etym: [F. Jésuite, Sp. Jesuita: cf. It. Gesuita.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Definition: 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.
2. 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition