syllogism English · revision 1116

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɪlədʒɪz(ə)m/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''silogisme'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|fro|silogisme]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|la|syllogismus]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|συλλογισμός|tr=sullogismós|t=inference, conclusion; computation]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''sullogízesthai'' “to bring together, infer”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''sun-'' “together” and ''logízesthai'' “to reckon”, from ''lógos'' “reckoning, reason”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The classical spelling with ''-y-'' was restored from about 1520.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Before 1387 in a transferred or humorous sense, an argument;^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) in logic, an argument of two premises and a conclusion (1398).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From 1588 the word also meant reasoning from the general to the particular, deduction in general.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) It is also used of a subtle or specious argument.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The verb ''syllogize'' dates from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline) and ''syllogistic'' from about 1449.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1387 – ''silogisme''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1398 – a formal argument in logic.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1449 – ''syllogistic''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1520 – spelling ''syllogism''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1588 – deductive reasoning in general.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A form of [[deduction|alt=deductive]] reasoning with a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion, as “all humans are mortal, I am human, therefore I am mortal”.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Reasoning from the general to the particular; deduction.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A subtle, specious or crafty argument; a [[sophism]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[syllogistic]]

+ * [[syllogistically]]

+ * [[episyllogism]]

+ * [[polysyllogism]]

+ * [[prosyllogism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[logic]]

+ * [[logos]]

+ * [[premise]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}