semifactual
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From semi- + factual. In the logic sense, introduced by Nelson Goodman.
Pronunciation
[edit]- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃʊəl/, /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃʊl/, /ˌsɛmiˈfak(t)ʃəl/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃuəl/, /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃwəl/, /ˌsɛmaɪˈfækt͡ʃəl/
Adjective
[edit]semifactual (not comparable)
- Only partly factual.
- 2007 January 26, Ruth M. J. Byrne, The Rational Imagination: How People Create Alternatives to Reality[1], MIT Press, →ISBN, page 140:
- Suppose you are given the semifactual assertion, "even if Nora had liked mathematics then she would have became[sic] a scientist" and then you find out that Nora did in fact become a scientist.
Noun
[edit]semifactual (plural semifactuals)
- (logic) A conditional with a false antecedent and a true consequent.