CASUISTRY, noun The science or doctrine of cases of conscience; the science of resolving cases of doubtful propriety, or of 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 from equity and natural reason. Casus foederia. The case stipulated by treaty; that which comes within the terms of compact.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI