Syllogism Definition

sĭlə-jĭzəm
syllogisms
noun
An argument or form of reasoning in which two statements or premises are made and a logical conclusion is drawn from them (Ex.: All mammals are warmblooded [major premise]; whales are mammals [minor premise]; therefore, whales are warmblooded [conclusion])
Webster's New World
Reasoning from the general to the particular; deductive logic.
Webster's New World
A subtle or specious piece of reasoning.
American Heritage

(logic) An inference in which one proposition (the conclusion) follows necessarily from two other propositions, known as the premises.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Syllogism

Noun

Singular:
syllogism
Plural:
syllogisms

Origin of Syllogism

  • Middle English silogisme from Old French from Latin syllogismus from Greek sullogismos from sullogizesthai to infer sun- syn- logizesthai to count, reckon (from logos reason leg- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old French silogisme (“syllogism"), from Latin syllogismus, from Ancient Greek συλλογισμός (syllogismos, “inference, conclusion").

    From Wiktionary

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