[syl.lo.gism] n [ME silogisme, fr. MF, fr. L syllogismus, fr. Gk syllogismos, fr. syllogizesthai to syllogize, fr. syn- + logizesthai to calculate, fr. logos reckoning, word--more at legend] (14c) 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 adj -- syl.lo.gis.ti.cal.ly adv