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.

---

sophister British  

/ ˈsɒfɪstə /

noun

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

2. rare another word for sophist

---

Etymology

Origin of sophister

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

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sophister

Truly, they have made me think of the sophister, that with too much subtlety would prove two eggs three, and though he may be counted a sophister, had none for his labour.

From A Defence of Poesie and Poems by Sir Philip Sidney

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 David Laing

He ridicules his opponent's arguments as worthy of "a sophister in the parvyse schools."

From Notes and Queries, Number 191, June 25, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by George Bell

There the Latinist and sophister and every unlearned writer tries the fitness of his pen, a practice that we have frequently seen injuring the usefulness and value of the most beautiful books.

From The Love of Books The Philobiblon of Richard de Bury by Ernest Chester Thomas

"I will not vouchsafe to reply upon this answer," snarled Fulke, whose temper had not been improved by the debate—"too childish for a sophister!"

From By What Authority? by Robert Hugh Benson

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---