syllogism

Etymology

From Old French silogisme (“syllogism”), from Latin syllogismus, from Ancient Greek συλλογισμός (sullogismós, “inference, conclusion”). Doublet of syllogismus.

noun

1. (logic) An argument whose conclusion is supported by two premises, of which one contains the term that is the predicate of the conclusion, and the other contains the term that is the subject of the conclusion; common to both premises is a term that is excluded from the conclusion.
   Meronyms: major premise, minor premise
   Ever since Aristotle, syllogism has occupied a central place in logic and cast a fateful shadow upon the power of reason. Recognized to be the great conveyor of rationality, allowing reason to reach conclusions of unparalleled universality and necessity, syllogism has equally been acknowledged to be beset by limits. 2006, Richard Dien Winfield, From Concept to Objectivity: Thinking Through Hegel's Subjective Logic, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., page 107
2. (obsolete) A trick, artifice; an extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument; a sophism.