Căsʹ/u-ist-ry, n.

(kăzh′/u-ist-rĭ), n. 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.

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

A precious piece of casuistry hardly surpassed by any thing in ecclesiastical annals. Prescott.