Jesuit
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Jesuit
A member of the Catholic order 'Society of Jesus' (Societas Iesu), which is known for its educational work and missionary activity.
Papst Franziskus ist der erste Jesuit in diesem Amt.
Pope Francis is the first Jesuit to hold this office.
Jesuit
In a figurative, often derogatory sense, a person who is considered clever, calculating, or sophistical and who uses complex arguments that are hard to see through.
Mit seiner raffinierten Argumentation entlarvte er sich als wahrer Jesuit.
With his sophisticated argumentation, he revealed himself to be a true Jesuit.
The Jesuit order is historically known for its high level of education and intellectual tradition. From this reputation developed the figurative meaning of a person who argues very cleverly and in a complex way.
Viele Universitäten wurden von Jesuiten gegründet.
Many universities were founded by Jesuits.
The related adjective is 'jesuitisch' (Jesuit/Jesuitical). It can refer both to the order and to the figurative meaning of sophistical argumentation.
Er besuchte ein jesuitisches Gymnasium.
He attended a Jesuit high school.
You can recognize the derogatory, figurative meaning from words in the area of discussion and argumentation, such as 'Argument' (argument), 'raffiniert' (sophisticated/crafty), or 'spitzfindig' (sophistical). The literal meaning usually appears in a religious context.
Seine spitzfindige Antwort war die eines echten Jesuiten.
His sophistical answer was that of a real Jesuit.
