n.
Pronunciation: ' si-l ə - ˌ ji-z ə m
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English silogisme, from Anglo-French sillogisme, from Latin syllogismus, from Greek syllogismos, from syllogizesthai to syllogize, from syn- + logizesthai to calculate, from logos reckoning, word ― more at LEGEND
Date: 14th century
1 : a deductive scheme of a formal argument consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion (as in “ every virtue is laudable; kindness is a virtue; therefore kindness is laudable ” )
2 : a subtle, specious, or crafty argument
3 : deductive reasoning
– syl · lo · gis · tic \ ˌ si-l ə - ' jis-tik \ adjective
– syl · lo · gis · ti · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb