civilist

Meaning

Noun

• One who studies or works with the civil law.
• One who rejects the moral authority of Christ but who nevertheless adheres to a moral code in line with “civil righteousness” and “good citizenship”.
• A statesman, politician, or student of the political sciences.

Origin

• From Medieval Latin civilista, from Latin cīvīlis, on the pattern of Medieval Latin canonista, from Latin canōn.