jésuite

Jesuit

noun zhay-ZWEET Rare

Origin: From the Society of Jesus (Jesuit order), founded by St Ignatius of Loyola in 1540.

Also means

crafty or scheming person

Usage Note

Jésuite in its primary sense denotes a member of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order known for intellectual rigour and missionary work. The derogatory secondary sense ('crafty, hypocritical schemer') derives from historical anti-Jesuit prejudice and produced the adjective jésuitique. The word can therefore be complimentary or insulting depending on context.

Examples

"Les jésuites ont fondé de nombreuses universités."

Natural Translation

The Jesuits founded many universities.

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