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petitio principii

[pi-tish-ee-oh prin-sip-ee-ahy; Latin pe-tee-ti-oh pring-kip-i-ee]

noun Logic.

a fallacy in reasoning resulting from the assumption of that which in the beginning was set forth to be proved; begging the question.

Nearby words

  1. petit's lumbar triangle,
  2. petite,
  3. petite bourgeoise,
  4. petite bourgeoisie,
  5. petite marmite,
  6. petition,
  7. petitionary,
  8. petitioner,
  9. petitor,
  10. petits pois

Origin of petitio principii

1525–35; < Medieval Latin petītiō prīncipiī, translation of Greek tò en archêi aiteîsthai the assumption at the outset
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for petitio principii

petitio principii

noun

logic a form of fallacious reasoning in which the conclusion has been assumed in the premises; begging the questionSometimes shortened to: petitio

Word Origin for petitio principii

C16: Latin, translation of Greek to en arkhei aiteisthai an assumption at the beginning
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012