# "Jesuit" Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [November 13, 2000, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuit-question/40969 "2000-11-13T07:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuit-question/40969/1 "2000-11-13T07:17:37Z")
I was reading [Alphagene’s Staff Report](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mjesuit.html) 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? ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuit-question/40969/2 "2000-11-13T16:37:32Z")
From the [Jesuit](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14081a.htm) entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia > [@](#): > > The term “Jesuit” (of fifteenth-century origin, meaning one who used too frequently or appropriated the name of Jesus), was first applied to the society in reproach (1544-52), and was never employed by its founder, though members and friends of the society in time accepted the name in its good sense. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuit-question/40969/3 "2000-11-13T22:47:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuit-question/40969/4 "2000-11-13T23:57:16Z")
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_. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuit-question/40969/5 "2000-11-14T05:17:24Z")
Jesus-ite. Thanks **bibliophage**. That’s exactly what I was looking for. Good article, **Alphagene**. ---
**Author:** ![Yuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/50afbb/32.png) [@Yuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yuck)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuit-question/40969/6 "2000-11-15T06:15:58Z")
Nice article expressing my own feelings about the Jesuits, alphagene! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2000, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuit-question/40969/7 "2000-11-15T13:29:05Z")
Darn, I always thought the word came from Je-suits, a type of garmet, like in two-piece suits or leisure suits. ---
**Author:** ![lawdgnm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@lawdgnm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawdgnm)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuit-question/40969/8 "2000-11-16T00:47:21Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2000, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuit-question/40969/9 "2000-11-16T19:30:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lawdgnm \* > **Plus, in “The Exorcist,” both priests were from the Jesuit order.** 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.