noun

1. an argument or form of reasoning in which two statements or premises are made and a logical conclusion is drawn from themEx.: All mammals are warmblooded (major premise); whales are mammals (minor premise); therefore, whales are warmblooded (conclusion)
2. reasoning from the general to the particular; deductive logic
3. an instance of subtle, tricky, or specious reasoning

Etymology: ME silogisme < MFr < L syllogismus < Gr syllogismos, a reckoning together < syllogizesthai, to reckon together, sum up < syn-, together + logizesthai, to reason < logos, word: see logic