I was reading Alphagene’s Staff Report about the Society of Jesus and I got to wondering about the etymology of the word “Jesuit”.
Alphagene mentions that the term used to mean “a guy who mentions Jesus way too much”.
Can anyone expand on this?
From the Jesuit entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia
A more recent example, I have heard the term “Jeezer” used in a derogatory manner for someone fixated on Jesus or too frequently mentioning Jesus.
It breaks down to Jesu + it, which are the same roots as in Jesus-ite (follower of Jesus). It came into English either from Latin Jesuita or French jésuite.
Jesus-ite. Thanks bibliophage. That’s exactly what I was looking for.
Good article, Alphagene.
Nice article expressing my own feelings about the Jesuits, alphagene!
Darn, I always thought the word came from Je-suits, a type of garmet, like in two-piece suits or leisure suits.
Not only do they run excellent colleges and universities, but Jesuits also provide excellent education at the high school level as well.
Jesuits have also been referred to as the “Marines of the Catholic Church” because of their historical role as being the first Catholic Church representatives to visit non-Christian or Catholic societies. Unfortunately, many of them are martyred as a result.
Plus, in “The Exorcist,” both priests were from the Jesuit order.
In summary, Jesuits kick butt!
Right.
In fact, both the neighborhood and the univeristy of Georgetown are featured prominently in the movie. Not surprising when you consider that William Peter Blatty, the author of the Exorcist novel and screenplay (for which he won an Oscar and a Golden Globe), is a Georgetown U alumnus. Class of 1950, I believe.