*sui*

n. [ L. casus fall, case; cf. F. casuiste. See Casual. ] One who is skilled in, or given to, casuistry. [ 1913 Webster ]

The judment of any casuist or learned divine concerning the state of a man's soul, is not sufficient to give him confidence. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To play the casuist. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to casuists or casuistry; as, casuistic thinking. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. The science or doctrine of dealing with cases of conscience, of resolving questions of right or wrong in conduct, or determining the lawfulness or unlawfulness of what a man may do by rules and principles drawn from the Scriptures, from the laws of society or the church, or from equity and natural reason; the application of general moral rules to particular cases. [ 1913 Webster ]

The consideration of these nice and puzzling question in the science of ethics has given rise, in modern times, to a particular department of it, distinguished by the title of casuistry. Stewart. [ 1913 Webster ]

Casuistry in the science of cases (i.e., oblique deflections from the general rule). De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sophistical, equivocal, or false reasoning or teaching in regard to duties, obligations, and morals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mil. Antiq.) A suit of light armor covering less than the whole body, as having no protection for the legs below the thighs, no vizor to the helmet, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. subsequent, or occurring as a result; as, ensuing events confirmed the prediction.
Syn. -- following; succeeding. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. (Contract bridge, Whist) A plain suit in which a player (or side) could, except for trumping, take tricks with all his remaining cards. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. (Min.) The Chinese name for a highly prized variety of pale green jade. See Jade. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ gravity + suit. 1944[ MW10 ] ] (Aeronautics) A suit worn by aviators and astronauts, designed to counteract the effects of high accelerations experienced in aerial maneuvers, in particular to avoid unconsciousness; called also anti-g suit. It exerts force on the abdomen and legs to prevent blackouts by counteracting the tendency of blood to accumulate below the heart, thus reducing the supply to the brain, when the forces due to acceleration are directed from head to toe. [ PJC ]

a. Unsuitable. [ Obs. ] -- In*suit`a*bil"i*ty n. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

n. the act of issuing; putting out.
Syn. -- issue, issuance. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. Jésuite, Sp. Jesuita: cf. It. Gesuita. ] 1. (R. C. Ch.) One of a religious order founded by Ignatius Loyola, and approved in 1540, under the title of The Society of Jesus. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: A crafty person; an intriguer. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Conforming to the principles of the Jesuits. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. Jésuitesse. ] (R. C. Hist.) One of an order of nuns established on the principles of the Jesuits, but suppressed by Pope Urban in 1633.

{ } a. [ Cf. F. jésuitique. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Of or pertaining to the Jesuits, or to their principles and methods. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Designing; cunning; deceitful; crafty; -- an opprobrious use of the word. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a jesuitical manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. jésuitisme. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The principles and practices of the Jesuits. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Cunning; deceit; deceptive practices to effect a purpose; subtle argument; -- an opprobrious use of the word. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Jesuit + -cracy, as in aristocracy. ] Government by Jesuits; also, the whole body of Jesuits in a country. [ R. ] C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Jesuitism; subtle argument. [ R. ] Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a one-piece coverall used by parachutists while jumping from an airplane. [ PJC ]

2. a one-piece garment resembling a jumpsuit{ 1 }, having a shirt or blouse attached to trousers or shorts. [ PJC ]

n. An action at law; a suit in equity or admiralty; any legal proceeding before a court for the enforcement of a claim. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bridge) A suit of playing cards which has higher scoring value; specifically, either spades or hearts. Contrasted with a minor suit, being either diamonds or clubs. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. (Law) A neglect or failure by the plaintiff to follow up his suit; a stopping of the suit; a renunciation or withdrawal of the cause by the plaintiff, either because he is satisfied that he can not support it, or upon the judge's expressing his opinion. A compulsory nonsuit is a nonsuit ordered by the court on the ground that the plaintiff on his own showing has not made out his case. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nonsuited; p. pr. & vb. n. Nonsuiting. ] (Law) To determine, adjudge, or record (a plaintiff) as having dropped his suit, upon his withdrawal or failure to follow it up. “When two are joined in a writ, and one is nonsuited.” Z. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Nonsuited. D. A. Tyng. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Pursuivant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. poursuite, fr. poursuivre. See Pursue, v. t. ] 1. The act of following or going after; esp., a following with haste, either for sport or in hostility; chase; prosecution; as, the pursuit of game; the pursuit of an enemy. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Weak we are, and can not shun pursuit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A following with a view to reach, accomplish, or obtain; endeavor to attain to or gain; as, the pursuit of knowledge; the pursuit of happiness or pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Course of business or occupation; continued employment with a view to same end; as, mercantile pursuits; a literary pursuit. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) Prosecution. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That pursuit for tithes ought, and of ancient time did pertain to the spiritual court. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

Curve of pursuit (Geom.), a curve described by a point which is at each instant moving towards a second point, which is itself moving according to some specified law. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. poursuivant, fr. poursuivre. See Pursue, and cf. Pursuant. ] [ Written also poursuivant. ] 1. (Heralds' College) A functionary of lower rank than a herald, but discharging similar duties; -- called also pursuivant at arms; an attendant of the heralds. Also used figuratively. [ 1913 Webster ]

The herald Hope, forerunning Fear,
And Fear, the pursuivant of Hope. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The king's messenger; a state messenger. [ 1913 Webster ]

One pursuivant who attempted to execute a warrant there was murdered. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To pursue. [ Obs. & R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Their navy was pursuivanted after with a horrible tempest. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

. The voluntary failure of the members of a race or people to have a number of children sufficient to keep the birth rate equal to the death rate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. Sensualism. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A costume consisting of a plain belted blouse and skirt of the same material. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a protective suit covering the whole body, completely airtight and designed to withstand internal pressure, worn by astronauts to protect them from the vacuum and other hazards of outer space. It typically contains an air supply and other life-support equipment to allow functioning independent of any other equipment for a period of time while in space. [ PJC ]

a. Partaking of, or of the nature of, the crime or suicide. -- Su"i*ci`dal*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ L. sui of one's self (akin to suus one's own) + caedere to slay, to kill. Cf. So, adv., Homicide. ] 1. The act of taking one's own life voluntary and intentionally; self-murder; specifically (Law), the felonious killing of one's self; the deliberate and intentional destruction of one's own life by a person of years of discretion and of sound mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One guilty of self-murder; a felo-de-se. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Ruin of one's own interests. “Intestine war, which may be justly called political suicide.” V. Knox. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Suicidal. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being suicidal, or self-murdering. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. suus one's own. ] Selfishness; egoism. [ R. ] Whitlock. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L. ] Of his or its own kind. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. souillage, soillage, fr. souiller, soiller. See Soil to stain, and cf. Sullage. ] A drain or collection of filth. [ Obs. ] [ Written also sulliage, and sullage. ] Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. sus hog. ] (Zool.) Of or pertaining to a hog or the Hog family (Suidae). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Suint. ] A mixture of oleomargarine with lard or other fatty ingredients. It is used as a substitute for butter. See Butterine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. suer to sweat, L. sudare. ] The process of soaking through anything. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ See Sue to follow. ] In succession; afterwards. [ Obs. ] Sir T. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] (Chem.) A peculiar substance obtained from the wool of sheep, consisting largely of potash mixed with fatty and earthy matters. It is used as a source of potash and also for the manufacture of gas. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ L. Suiones (a Teutonic tribe in what is now Sweeden) + E. Goth. ] The Scandinavian Goths. See the Note under Goths. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. suus belinging to himself or to one's self. ] One who seeks for things which gratify merely himself; a selfish person; a selfist. [ R. ] Whitlock. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. suite, F. suite, OF. suite, sieute, fr. suivre to follow, OF. sivre; perhaps influenced by L. secta. See Sue to follow, and cf. Sect, Suite. ] 1. The act of following or pursuing, as game; pursuit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of suing; the process by which one endeavors to gain an end or an object; an attempt to attain a certain result; pursuit; endeavor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thenceforth the suit of earthly conquest shone. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of wooing in love; the solicitation of a woman in marriage; courtship. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rebate your loves, each rival suit suspend,
Till this funereal web my labors end. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) The attempt to gain an end by legal process; an action or process for the recovery of a right or claim; legal application to a court for justice; prosecution of right before any tribunal; as, a civil suit; a criminal suit; a suit in chancery. [ 1913 Webster ]

I arrest thee at the suit of Count Orsino. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

In England the several suits, or remedial instruments of justice, are distinguished into three kinds -- actions personal, real, and mixed. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. That which follows as a retinue; a company of attendants or followers; the assembly of persons who attend upon a prince, magistrate, or other person of distinction; -- often written suite, and pronounced [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Things that follow in a series or succession; the individual objects, collectively considered, which constitute a series, as of rooms, buildings, compositions, etc.; -- often written suite, and pronounced [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A number of things used together, and generally necessary to be united in order to answer their purpose; a number of things ordinarily classed or used together; a set; as, a suit of curtains; a suit of armor; a suit of clothes; a three-piece business suit. “Two rogues in buckram suits.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

8. (Playing Cards) One of the four sets of cards which constitute a pack; -- each set consisting of thirteen cards bearing a particular emblem, as hearts, spades, clubs, or diamonds; also, the members of each such suit held by a player in certain games, such as bridge; as, hearts were her long suit. [ 1913 Webster ]

To deal and shuffle, to divide and sort
Her mingled suits and sequences. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Regular order; succession. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Every five and thirty years the same kind and suit of weather comes again. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. Hence: (derived from def 7) Someone who dresses in a business suit, as contrasted with more informal attire; specifically, a person, such as business executive, or government official, who is apt to view a situation formalistically, bureaucratically, or according to formal procedural criteria; -- used derogatively for one who is inflexible, esp. when a more humanistic or imaginative approach would be appropriate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Out of suits, having no correspondence. [ Obs. ] Shak. --
Suit and service (Feudal Law), the duty of feudatories to attend the courts of their lords or superiors in time of peace, and in war to follow them and do military service; -- called also suit service. Blackstone. --
Suit broker, one who made a trade of obtaining the suits of petitioners at court. [ Obs. ] --
Suit court (O. Eng. Law), the court in which tenants owe attendance to their lord. --
Suit covenant (O. Eng. Law), a covenant to sue at a certain court. --
Suit custom (Law), a service which is owed from time immemorial. --
Suit service. (Feudal Law) See Suit and service, above. --
To bring suit. (Law) (a) To bring secta, followers or witnesses, to prove the plaintiff's demand. [ Obs. ] (b) In modern usage, to institute an action. --
To follow suit. (a) (Card Playing) See under Follow, v. t. (b) To mimic the action of another person; to perform an action similar to what has preceded; as, when she walked in, John left the room and his wife followed suit. --
long suit (a) (Card Playing) the suit{ 8 } of which a player has the largest number of cards in his hand; as, his long suit was clubs, but his partner insisted on making hearts trumps.. Hence: [ fig. ] that quality or capability which is a person's best asset; as, we could see from the mess in his room that neatness was not his long suit. --
strong suit same as long suit, (b). “I think our strong suit is that we can score from both the perimeter and the post.” Bill Disbrow (basketball coach) 1998. “Rigid ideological consistency has never been a strong suit of the Whole Earth Catalogue.” Bruce Sterling (The Hacker Crackdown, 1994) [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]