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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.…

or Virgilianæ Etym: [L., Homeric or Virgilian lots], a form of divination anciently practiced, which consisted in taking the first passage on which the eye fell, upon opening a volume of Homer or Virgil, or a passage drawn from an urn which several were deposited, as indicating future events, or the proper course to b…

To fill or impregnate with the odor of spices. In the spiced Indian air, by night. Shak.

A small crisp cake, highly spiced.

.), a rope secured at the ends to the heads of the foremast and mainmast with thimbles spliced to its bight into which the stay tackles hook.

A military punishment formerly practiced, which consisted in drawing an offender to the top of a beam and letting him fall to the length of the rope, by which means a limb was often dislocated. Shak.

A piece of rope spliced into a circular wreath, and put round a block for hanging it.

ro of a piece; the chief character. Writers of particular lives . . . are apt to be prejudiced in favor of their subject. C. Middleton.

To furnish; to supply adequately. [Obs.] The power appeased, with winds sufficed the sail. Dryden.

or sacred things profanely; to call upon God in imprecation; to curse. [I] swore little; diced not above seven times a week. Shak. To swear by, to place great confidence in a person or thing; to trust implicitly as an authority. "I simply meant to ask if you are one of those who swear by Lord Verulam." Miss Edgeworth.…

reat draughts; to swallow greedily. Well-dressed people, of both sexes, . . . devouring sliced beef, and swilling pork, and punch, and cider. Smollett.

Obsequious flattery; servility. The sycophancy of A.Philips had prejudiced Mr. Addison against Pope. Bp. Warburton.

The theory, plan, or practice of trade-union action (originally as advocated and practiced by the French Confédération Générale du Travail) which aims to abolish the present political and social system by means of the general strike (as distinguished from the local or sectional strike) and direct action of whatever kin…

Formed in latticework; latticed. T. Warton.

Confidence; reliance. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. Tack of a flag (Naut.), a line spliced into the eye at the foot of the hoist for securing the flag to the halyards. -- Tack pins (Naut.), belaying pins; -- also called jack pins. -- To haul the tacks aboard (Naut.), to set the courses. -- To hold tack, to last or hold ou…

A rope spliced to the strap of a block, by which it may be lashed to anything.

the skin and introducing some pigment into the punctures; -- a mode of ornamentation practiced by various barbarous races, both in ancient and modern times, and also by some among civilized nations, especially by sailors.

t is wrong; to seduce. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. James i. 14.

The state of being tempted, or enticed to evil. Lead us not into temptation. Luke xi. 4.

aks and interruption, in the manner of a person half suffocated. [R.] Throttle their practiced accent in their fears. Shak.