Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

syllogism

 [sil-uh-jiz-uhm]   Origin

syl·lo·gism

   [sil-uh-jiz-uhm]
noun
1.
Logic. an argument the conclusion of which is supported by two premises, of which one (major premise) contains the term (major term) that is the predicate of the conclusion, and the other (minor premise) contains the term (minor term) that is the subject of the conclusion; common to both premises is a term (middle term) that is excluded from the conclusion. A typical form is “All A is C; all B is A; therefore all B is C.”
2.
deductive reasoning.
3.
an extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument.
Origin:
1350–1400; < Latin syllogismus < Greek syllogismós, equivalent to syllog- (see syllogize) + -ismos -ism; replacing Middle English silogime < Old French < Latin, as above
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To syllogism

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Syllogism is an SAT word you need to know.
So is impasse. Does it mean:
dulled by overindulgence; worn out or wearied, as by overwork or overuse
a position or situation from which there is no escape; a road or way that has no outlet
LEARN MORE SAT WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
syllogism (ˈsɪləˌdʒɪzəm)
 
—n
1.  a deductive inference consisting of two premises and a conclusion, all of which are categorial propositions. The subject of the conclusion is the minor term and its predicate the major term; the middle term occurs in both premises but not the conclusion. There are 256 such arguments but only 24 are valid. Some men are mortal; some men are angelic; so some mortals are angelic is invalid, while some temples are in ruins; all ruins are fascinating; so some temples are fascinating is valid. Here fascinating, in ruins, and temples are respectively major, middle, and minor terms
2.  a deductive inference of certain other forms with two premises, such as the hypothetical syllogism,if P then Q; if Q then R; so if P then R
3.  a piece of deductive reasoning from the general to the particular
4.  a subtle or deceptive piece of reasoning
 
[C14: via Latin from Greek sullogismos, from sullogizesthai to reckon together, from sul-syn- + logizesthai to calculate, from logos a discourse]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

syllogism
late 14c., from O.Fr. silogisme "a syllogism," from L. syllogismus, from Gk. syllogismos "a syllogism," originally "inference, conclusion, computation, calculation," from syllogizesthai "bring together, premise, conclude," lit. "think together," from syn- "together" + logizesthai "to reason, count,"
EXPAND
from logos "a reckoning, reason."
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

syllogism definition


/sil'oh-jiz`*m/ Deductive reasoning in which a conclusion is derived from two premises. The conclusion necessarily follows from the premises so that, if these are true, the conclusion must be true, and the syllogism amounts to demonstration. To put it another way, the premises imply the conclusion.
For example, every virtue is laudable; kindness is a virtue; therefore kindness is laudable.
Strangely, a syllogism can still be true if the premises are false. Compare inference rule.
[Relationship between premises?]
(2009-10-28)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT