sorites
/səˈɹaɪtiːz/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.33 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A series of propositions whereby each conclusion is taken as the subject of the next.
Example Sentences
- "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 […]."
- "Electrons are quite as elusive as ghosts; we are only aware of them as the conclusion to a colossal sorites."
Etymology
From the Latin sōrītēs, from the Ancient Greek σωρῑ́της (sōrī́tēs, “fallacy of the heap”), from σωρός (sōrós, “heap”).
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: sōrītēs, σωρῑ́της