начётчик

rare #62942

nounmasculineanimatecountable

1.
(rare) person well-read in the Scriptures, self-taught Scripture scholar, well-read man (in church books)religion
В дере́вне его счита́ли начётчиком: он знал все церко́вные кни́ги.
In the village he was considered a man well-read in the Scriptures: he knew all the church books.
Historical, chiefly of Old Believers and peasant readers of religious literature.
2.
(rare) dogmatist, literalist, pedant
Спо́рить с таки́м начётчиком бесполе́зно — он то́лько цита́ты приво́дит.
There is no point arguing with such a dogmatist - he only quotes texts.
Disparaging: someone who cites chapter and verse without understanding.

Examples

Он не мыслитель, а обычный начётчик.
He is not a thinker, just an ordinary dogmatist.