sophister

American  

[sof-uh-ster] / ˈsɒf ə stər /

noun

1. a specious, unsound, or fallacious reasoner.

2. Chiefly British. (especially formerly) a second or third year student at a university.

3. Obsolete. an ancient Greek sophist.

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sophister British  

/ ˈsɒfɪstə /

noun

1. (esp formerly) a second-year undergraduate at certain British universities

2. rare another word for sophist

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Etymology

Origin of sophister

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French sophistre < Latin sophista. See sophist

Example Sentences

Soone after that was sent in two blacke Friers, an Englishe Frier & an other subtile sophister called Arbircromy, with the which Englishe Frier he would haue reasoned and declared hys fayth by the scriptures.

From The Works of John Knox, Vol. 1 (of 6) by Laing, David

After that, in their hearing, he should pronounce his gallant oration, which was done; and they being come, the sophister was brought in full hall, and began as followeth, in coughing.

From Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 1 by Motteux, Peter Anthony

By that he hath heard one mooting and seen two plays, he thinks as basely of the university as a young sophister doth of the grammar-school.

From Character Writings of the 17th Century by Various

I, who stood by and heard all, saw immediately that one was a crafty old sophister, and the other a true novice.

From Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin; Written by Himself. [Vol. 1 of 2] With His Most Interesting Essays, Letters, and Miscellaneous Writings; Familiar, Moral, Political, Economical, and Philosophical by Franklin, Benjamin

What is't to hear a sophister, that pleads, Who by the ears the deceived audience leads?

From Poetical Works of Edmund Waller and Sir John Denham by Denham, John, Sir