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petitio principii

[pi-tish-ee-oh prin-sip-ee-ahy; Latin pe-tee-ti-oh pring-kip-i-ee]
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noun Logic.
  1. a fallacy in reasoning resulting from the assumption of that which in the beginning was set forth to be proved; begging the question.
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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. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for petitio principii

petitio principii

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

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