elench
/ɪˈlɛŋk/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
That part of an argument on which its conclusiveness depends; that which convinces or refutes an antagonist; a refutation.
Example Sentences
- "Reprehension or Elench […] is a Syllogisme, which gathereth a conclusion contrary to the assertion of the respondent, as if a man would defend Medea not to love her childe, because she killed it, another might reason against him in this manner: every Mother loveth her child: but Medea is a Mother: Ergo, Medea loveth her child: the Conclusion of this Syllogisme is contrarie to the first Assertion […]"
- "But of these Sophisms and Elenchs of marchandize I skill not […]"
- "This fallacy in the first delusion Satan put upon Eve, and his whole tentation might be the same Elench continued; so when he said, Ye shall not die, that was in his equivocation, ye shall not incurre a present death, or a destruction immediatly ensuing your transgression."
Etymology
Latin elenchus, from Ancient Greek ἔλεγχος (élenkhos, “refutation, scrutiny”); compare Old French elenche. Doublet of elenchus.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: ἔλεγχος