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scholastic

1. Pertaining to, or suiting, a scholar, a school, or schools; scholarlike; as, scholastic manners or pride; scholastic learning.

2. Of or pertaining to the schoolmen and divines of the middle ages (see Schoolman); as, scholastic divinity or theology; scholastic philosophy.

3. Hence, characterised by excessive subtilty, or needlessly minute subdivisions; pedantic; formal.

Origin: L. Scholasticus, Gr, fr. To have leisure, to give lectures, to keep a school, from leisure, a lecture, a school: cf. F. Scholastique, scolastique. See School.

1. One who adheres to the method or subtilties of the schools.

2. See the note under jesuit.