sorites

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From the Latin sōrītēs, from the Ancient Greek σωρείτης (sōreitēs, fallacy of the heap), from σωρός (sōros, heap).

Pronunciation [edit]

  • IPA: /səˈraɪtiːz/

Noun [edit]

sorites (plural sorites)

  1. (logic, rhetoric) A series of propositions whereby each conclusion is taken as the subject of the next.
    • 1760, Laurence Sterne, The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Penguin 2003, p. 130:
      Why?—he would ask, making use of the sorites or syllogism of Zeno and Chrysippus without knowing it belonged to them.—Why? why are we a ruined people?—Because we are corrupted.——Whence is it, dear Sir, that we are corrupted?—Because we are needy [...] ——And wherefore, he would add,—are we needy?——From the neglect, he would answer

See also [edit]

Anagrams [edit]


Latin [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Ancient Greek σωρείτης (sōreitēs, fallacy of the heap), from σωρός (sōros, heap).

Pronunciation [edit]

Noun [edit]

sōrītēs (genitive sōrītae); m, first declension

  1. sorites; a logical sophism formed by an accumulation of arguments

Inflection [edit]

Number Singular Plural
nominative sōrītēs sōrītae
genitive sōrītae sōrītārum
dative sōrītae sōrītīs
accusative sōrītēn sōrītās
ablative sōrītē sōrītīs
vocative sōrītē sōrītae

Descendants [edit]

References [edit]

  • sorites in Charlton T. Lewis & Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1879