syllogize

American

[sil-uh-jahyz] / ˈsɪl əˌdʒaɪz /

especially British, syllogise

verb (used with or without object)

syllogized, syllogizing

to argue or reason by syllogism.

syllogize British

/ ˈsɪləˌdʒaɪz /

verb

to reason or infer by using syllogisms

"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

Other Word Forms

nonsyllogizing adjective
syllogization noun
syllogizer noun

Etymology

Origin of syllogize

1375–1425; late Middle English silogysen < Late Latin syllogizāre < Greek syllogízesthai to reason, equivalent to syl- syl- + logízesthai to reckon, infer, equivalent to lóg ( os ) discourse ( logos ) + -izesthai -ize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And thereon followed such confusion, with the one weeping and groaning, the other denouncing and syllogizing, and each so vehemently, that the good Duke could not tell which to listen to.

From Project Gutenberg

The student of logic “syllogizes” his statement, and before he draws a conclusion he always lays down his “premise.”

From Project Gutenberg

For the devil and reason, or human wisdom, can dispute and syllogize with extraordinary subtlety in these things until one imagines to be true wisdom that which is not.

From Project Gutenberg

The fatal defect consists in this, that it is ill-adapted to bring out the difference between total and partial coincidence of terms, the observation of which is the essential precaution in syllogizing correctly.

From Project Gutenberg

The great question of the future will be to syllogize or not to syllogize.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023