elenctic

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐλεγκτικός (elenktikós, “refutative”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɨˈlɛŋktɪk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /əˈlɛŋk.tɪk/

Adjective

elenctic (comparative more elenctic, superlative most elenctic)

1. Serving to refute, refutative, especially as part of a systematic interrogation; pertaining to rhetorical elenchus or cross-examination.
   • 1941, Vladimir Nabokov, The Real Life of Sebastian Knight, Penguin 1971 edition, page 101:

     ‘What lady?’ he asked in the elenctic tones of Lewis Carroll's caterpillar.

Alternative forms

• elenchtic
• elenchtical
• elenctical

Derived terms

• elenctic method