sorites
English edit
Etymology edit
From the Latin sōrītēs, from the Ancient Greek σωρείτης (sōreítēs, “fallacy of the heap”), from σωρός (sōrós, “heap”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
sorites (plural sorites)
- (logic, rhetoric) A series of propositions whereby each conclusion is taken as the subject of the next.
- 1760, Laurence Sterne, The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Penguin, published 2003, page 130:
- Why?—he would ask, making use of the sorites or syllogism of Zeno and Chrysippus without knowing it belonged to them.—Why? why are we a ruined people?—Because we are corrupted.——Whence is it, dear Sir, that we are corrupted?—Because we are needy [...] ——And wherefore, he would add,—are we needy?——From the neglect, he would answer
Derived terms edit
See also edit
Anagrams edit
Latin edit
Etymology edit
From Ancient Greek σωρείτης (sōreítēs, “fallacy of the heap”), from σωρός (sōrós, “heap”).
Pronunciation edit
- (Classical) IPA(key): /soːˈriː.teːs/, [s̠oːˈriːt̪eːs̠]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /soˈri.tes/, [soˈriːt̪es]
Noun edit
sōrītēs m (genitive sōrītae); first declension
- sorites; a logical sophism formed by an accumulation of arguments
Declension edit
First-declension noun (masculine Greek-type with nominative singular in -ēs).
Case | Singular | Plural |
---|---|---|
Nominative | sōrītēs | sōrītae |
Genitive | sōrītae | sōrītārum |
Dative | sōrītae | sōrītīs |
Accusative | sōrītēn | sōrītās |
Ablative | sōrītē | sōrītīs |
Vocative | sōrītē | sōrītae |
Descendants edit
- English: sorites
References edit
- “sorites”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- “sorites”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- sorites in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.