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Jesʹuit (3 syl.)

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When Ignatius de Loyola was asked what name he would give his order, he replied, “We are a little battalion of Jesus;” so it was called the “Society of Jesus,” vulgarised into Jesuits. The society was noted for its learning, political influence, and “pious frauds.” The order was driven from France in 1594, from England in 1604, from Venice in 1606, from Spain in 1767, from Naples in 1768; and in 1773 was suppressed by Pope Clement XIV.; but it revived again, and still exists. The word is used by controversialists to express one who “lies like truth,” or palters with us in a double sense, that “keeps the word of promise to our ear, and breaks it to our hope.”

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Jerusalem Artichoke
Jerusalem Chamber
Jerusalem Delivered
Jerusalem Pony
Jess (pl. Jesses)
Jessamy Bride
Jesse Tree
Jesse Window (A)
Jessica
Jesters
Jesuit
Jesus Paper
Jet
Jet dEau (French)
Jetsam or Jetson
Jettator
Jettatura
Jeu dEsprit (French)
Jeu de Mot
Jeunesse Dorée
Jew