casuistic

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree English casuist Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English casuistic From casuist + -ic.

1. Of or related to casuistry, attempting to solve moral dilemmas by application of general rules.
2. Similar to the arguments of casuists, particularly (figurative, derogatory) overly subtle, hair-splitting.

   “1855, Sir Richard Burton, Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah These subjects have exercised not a little the casuistic talents of the Arab doctors: a folio volume might be filled with differences of opinion on the subject, "Is a blind man sound?"”