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To make apparent or clear, as by evidence, testimony, or reasoning; to prove; to explain; also, to manifest; to evince; as, to show the truth of a statement; to show the causes of an event. I 'll show my duty by my timely care. Dryden.

certainty; - - as opposed to weakness or fallaciousness; as, the solidity of arguments or reasoning; the solidity of principles, triuths, or opinions.

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.…

litics 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 not for truth or morality, and merely professed to teach how to…

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

ported by justice; not to be overthrown on refuted; not fallacious; as, sound argument or reasoning; a sound objection; sound doctrine; sound principles. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me. 2 Tim. i. 13.

being sound; as, the soundness of timber, of fruit, of the teeth, etc.; the soundness of reasoning or argument; soundness of faith.

or correct, but not so in reality; appearing well at first view; plausible; as, specious reasoning; a specious argument. Misled for a moment by the specious names of religion, liberty, and property. Macaulay. In consequence of their greater command of specious expression. J. Morley.

The act or process of reasoning a priori from premises given or assumed.

sh; to make a fool of; as, to stultify one by imposition; to stultify one's self by silly reasoning or conduct. Burke.

Of or pertaining to a syllogism; consisting of a syllogism, or of the form of reasoning by syllogisms; as, syllogistic arguments or reasoning.

A reasoning by syllogisms. [Obs. or R.] Harris.

taining to synthesis; consisting in synthesis or composition; as, the synthetic method of reasoning, as opposed to analytical. Philosophers hasten too much from the analytic to the synthetic method; that is, they draw general conclusions from too small a number of particular observations and experiments. Bolingbroke.…

To form an opinion by reasoning; to judge; to conclude; to believe; as, I think it will rain to-morrow. Let them marry to whom they think best. Num. xxxvi. 6.

Deficient in reasoning power; stupid; dull. Thoughtless as monarch oaks that shade the plain. Dryden. -- Thought"less*ly, adv. -- Thought"less*ness, n.

arious general forms of argument employed in probable as distinguished from demonstrative reasoning, -- denominated by Aristotle to`poi (literally, places), as being the places or sources from which arguments may be derived, or to which they may be referred; also, a prepared form of argument, applicable to a great vari…

A process of reasoning in which each conclusion applies to just such an object as each of the premises applies to. Jevons.

h obstacles; to obstruct; to bring to naught. I can not but . . . admit the force of this reasoning, which I yet hope to traverse. Sir W. Scott.

To undo, disprove, or refute by reasoning. [Obs.] To unreason the equity of God's proceedings. South.

itle of these lords was vicious in its origin. Burke. A charge against Bentley of vicious reasoning. De Quincey.