Search the Dictionary

Sophism. [Obs.] I trow ye study aboute some sophime. Chaucer.

The doctrine or mode of reasoning practiced by a sophist; hence, any fallacy designed to deceive. When a false argument puts on the appearance of a true one, then it is properly called a sophism, or "fallacy". I. Watts. Let us first rid ourselves of sophisms, those of depraved men, and those of heartless philosophers.…

One of a class of men who taught eloquence, philosophy, and politics in ancient Greece; especially, one of those who, by their fallacious but plausible reasoning, puzzled inquirers after truth, weakened the faith of the people, and drew upon themselves general hatred and contempt. Many of the Sophists doubdtless card n…

A sophist. See Sophist. [Obs.] Hooker.

Of or pertaining to a sophist; embodying sophistry; fallaciously subtile; not sound. His argument . . . is altogether sophistical. Macaulay. -- So*phis"tic*al*ly, adv. -- So*phis"tic*al*ness, n.

To render worthless by admixture; to adulterate; to damage; to pervert; as, to sophisticate wine. Howell. To sophisticate the understanding. Southey. Yet Butler professes to stick to plain facts, not to sophisticate, not to refine. M. Arnold. They purchase but sophisticated ware. Dryden.

Adulterated; not pure; not genuine. So truth, while only one supplied the state, Grew scare and dear, and yet sophisticate. Dryden.

The act of sophisticating; adulteration; as, the sophistication of drugs. Boyle.

One who sophisticates.

The art or process of reasoning; logic. [Obs.]

he four classes in an American college, or one next above a freshman. [Formerly written also sophimore.]

Of or pertaining to a sophomore; resembling a sophomore; hence, pretentious; inflated in style or manner; as, sophomoric affectation. [U. S.]

A tree (Sophora Japonica) of Eastern Asia, resembling the common locust; occasionally planted in the United States.

See Softa.

To lay asleep; to put to sleep; to quiet. [Obs.] The king's declaration for the sopiting of all Arminian heresies. Fuller.

ct of putting to sleep, or the state of being put to sleep; sleep. [Obs.] Dementation and sopition of reason. Sir T. Browne.

Profound sleep from which a person can be roused only with difficulty.

To lay or put to sleep; to stupefy. [Obs.] Cudworth.

Causing sleep; somniferous; soporific. "Soporiferous medicine." Swift. --- Sop`o*rif"er*ous*ly, adv. -- Sop`o*rif"er*ous*ness, n.

Causing sleep; tending to cause sleep; soporiferous; as, the soporific virtues of opium.