non sequitur (2009-09-06)

Part of Speech: adjective

Pronunciation: [nahn 'se-kwi-têr]

Definition: Literally, not following (logically), illogical, not connected to anything previously said or (as a noun) a statement not following logically from what was previously said.

Usage: This is a pretty harsh criticism of someone's logical powers, so it should be applied directly only in extreme circumstances and indirectly only with cause. "What she is saying sounds fine but if you think for a minute, you see that it is non sequitur." Or, as a noun: "If his non sequiturs weren't so funny, he would be a detriment to the negotiations."

Suggested Usage: It originates in logic, where it refers to an inference not following from the premise.

Etymology: Latin non "not" + sequo "follow", from which we get "sequence", "consequent", "sequacious", "sequel", "sequester". From PIE *sekw-, which also underlies "sec-ond", "sect", "seal", "sign" and, in its "o" variant (*sokw-), "social" and "society" (Pokorny).