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



RESET




Word of the Day

18 April 2025

GROIN

(noun) the crease at the junction of the inner part of the thigh with the trunk together with the adjacent region and often including the external genitals


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, the seeds of berries from certain Coffea species. When coffee berries turn from green to bright red – indicating ripeness – they are picked, processed, and dried. Dried coffee seeds are roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor.

coffee icon