the anticipation of possible objections in order to answer them in advance
antiphrasis
the use of a word in a sense opposite to its proper meaning
syncrisis
the comparison of opposites
trial
the examination before a judicial tribunal of the facts put in issue in a cause, often including issues of law as well as those of fact
paradox
a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth
refute
to prove to be false or erroneous, as an opinion or charge
mundane
pertaining to this world or earth as contrasted with heaven; earthly, common, ordinary, banal or unimaginative
advocate
to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly
extant
still existing, not destroyed or lost
equivocate
to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead
imperturbable
incapable of being upset or agitated; not easily excited, calm
qualify
to modify or limit in some way; make less strong or positive
irony
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning; an outcome of events contrary to what was expected
ambiguous
having several possible meanings or interpretations; difficult to distinguish or classify
ensure
to secure or guarantee; to make certain
eccentric
a person who has an unusual, peculiar, or odd personality, set of beliefs, or behavior pattern
subsequent
occurring or coming later or after; following in order or succession
intrinsic
belonging to a thing by its very nature
connotation
the set of attributes constituting the meaning of a term, determining the range of objects to which that term may be applied
principle
a fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which others are derived
principal
first or highest in rank, importance, value
aggregate
to combine and form a collection of something
viable
capable of becoming actual, useful; practicable
premise
to set forth beforehand, as by way of introduction or explanation; to assume, either explicitly or implicitly, as a premise for a conclusion
prominent
standing out so as to be seen easily; conspicuous; particularly noticeable
contingent
dependent on something conditional that may or may not happen
anomaly
a deviation from the common rule or arrangement; an odd condition
indigenous
originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country
impetus
a moving force, impulse or stimulus
implication
something implied or suggested as naturally to be inferred or understood
eschew
to abstain or keep away from; shun or avoid
necessary
something requisite such that a denial of it involves a self-contradiction
preclude
to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; to make impossible
contrary
in opposition, counter
sustain
to support, hold, or bear up from below
phenomenon
a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed; something that is impressive or extraordinary
hypothetical
assumed by hypothesis; when unproven factors are assumed to exist
fallacy
a deceptive, misleading, or false notion, belief, or an unsound argument
contingency
dependence on chance or on the fulfillment of a condition
inference
the process of deriving conclusions or facts by reasoning
coherent
logically connected and consistent
analytic
skilled in determining the elements or essential features and critically examine an element or argument
sedentary
accustomed to sitting a great deal and to take little exercise
conform
to act in accordance to rules
entail
involve by necessity or as a consequence
circumvent
to avoid defeat by artfulness or deception, or to avoid by anticipating or outwitting
contention
a point made in an argument
cryptic
mysterious in meaning, abrupt, terse or short
correlation
mutual relation of two or more things
proposition
the act of offering or suggesting something to be considered, accepted or adopted; an offer of terms for a transaction, as in business
emphasis
special stress laid upon, or importance attached to, anything; the intensity or force of expression or action
assertion
a positive statement or declaration, often without support or reason
sufficient
adequate for the purpose; enough
compel
to drive to a course of action or to force to submit
ample
more than adequate for the purpose or needs; plentiful
oblige
to require or constrain, as by law, command, conscience, or force of necessity
impediment
obstruction, hindrance or obstacle
prevaricate
to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression
temporal
pertaining to time
undermine
to injure or destroy by insidious activity or imperceptible stages, sometimes tending toward a sudden dramatic effect
impose
to be put upon by an authority, such as a penalty
crucial
involving an extremely important decision or result; critical
claim
a demand for something, an assertion of a right or an assertion of something as a fact
endorse
to approve, support, or sustain
subsidiary
serving to assist or supplement; auxiliary or supplementary
unequivocal
not equivocal; unambiguous; clear; having only one possible meaning or interpretation
liability
debts or pecuniary obligations as opposed to assets; something disadvantageous
constitute
to establish or give legal form
converse
something opposite or contrary; a proposition obtained from another proposition by conversion
alternative
a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, the selection of which precludes any other possibility
derive
to come from a source or origin; originate
justify
to show to be right; to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded
particular
an individual or distinct part, as an item of a list or enumeration; a specific point, detail or circumstance
incoherent
without logical or meaningful connection
rebuttal
an act of refuting or responding to an argument, as in a debate
pundit
a learned person, expert, or authority who makes comments or judgments in an authoritative manner
posit
to lay down or assume as a fact or principle; postulate
verify
to prove the truth of, as by evidence or testimony; confirm
induction
a conclusion drawn from asserted or established propositions on the basis of observations on a number of particular facts
proportion
comparative relation between things or magnitudes as to size, quantity or number; ratio
solely
exclusively or only
valid
sound, just, well-founded; effective and authoritative
intention
an instance of determining upon some action or result; purpose or attitude toward the effect of one's actions or conduct
accumulate
to gather or collect, often in gradual degrees; heap up
aggravate
to make more severe or intensify; to annoy or irritate
skeptic
a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual
afford
to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect
inflation
a persistent, substantial rise in the general level of prices related to an increase in the volume of money, resulting in a loss of value
synthetic
involving the combining of the constituent elements of separate material or abstract entities into a single, unified entity
betray
expose to an enemy by treachery; to disappoint the hopes or expectations of
condition
a stipulation in an agreement transferring property that provides for a change consequent on the occurrence of an event
placebo
a substance having no pharmacological effect but given merely to satisfy a patient who supposes it to be a medicine
indicate
evidence; to point out or point to
deduction
something that is or may be concluded by deriving from something known or inferred
correspond
to be in agreement or conformity; to be similar or analogous, equivalent in function, position or amount
advance
to move forward, suggest or propose; to improve or to promote
opposition
the action of resisting, or combating; a person or group of people opposing, criticizing, or protesting something
property
the possession or possessions of a particular owner including goods and land
improbable
not probable; unlikely to be true or to happen
jurisprudence
the science or philosophy of law, a body or system of laws
hearsay
unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another and not part of one's direct knowledge
inconsistent
lacking in harmony between the different parts or elements; self-contradictory or lacking agreement
generalization
asserting that something is true of all members of a certain class or of an indefinite part of that class, leaving distinctions within the class aside
presuppose
to suppose or assume beforehand; to require or imply as an antecedent condition
predispose
to give an inclination or tendency to beforehand; make susceptible
incompatible
not compatible; unable to exist together in harmony
consequent
following as an effect or result; following as a logical conclusion
categorical
without exceptions or conditions; absolute; unqualified and unconditional
circular
reasoning in which the conclusion is ostensibly proved, but in actuality it has been assumed as a premise
aporia
the expression of a simulated or real doubt, as about where to begin or what to do or say
superordinate
of higher degree in condition or rank; related to a particular proposition of the same quality and containing the same terms in the same order
concinnity
a close harmony of tone and logic among the elements of a discourse
vicious circle
the use of each of two terms to define the other, neither fully able to be sustained without the other
obversion
an act or instance of obverting, or turning something around
biconditional
a proposition asserting that the existence or occurrence of one thing is dependent on the existence of another, as ?A if and only if B?
decidable
having the property that its consistency or inconsistency with the axioms of a given logical system is determinable
law of contradiction
the law that a proposition cannot be both true and false or that a thing cannot both have and not have a given property
antilogism
a group of three inconsistent propositions, two of which are premises of a syllogism that contradict the third
antecedent
a preceding circumstance or event; the history, events and characteristics of one's earlier life
oligarchy
a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.
profound
penetrating or entering deeply into subjects of thought or knowledge; having deep insight or understanding
prohibitive
sufficing to prevent the use, purchase, etc., of something
provident
having or showing foresight; providing carefully for the future.
puissant
powerful; mighty; potent.
punctilious
extremely attentive to punctilios strict or exact in the observance of the formalities or amenities of conduct or actions.
purport
to present, especially deliberately, the appearance of being; profess or claim, often falsely
pusillanimous
lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid.
quagmire
a situation from which extrication is very difficult
quail
to lose heart or courage in difficulty or danger; shrink with fear.
qualm
a sudden feeling of apprehensive uneasiness; misgiving
query
to ask questions of.
quorum
the number of members of a group or organization required to be present to transact business legally, usually a majority.
raconteur
a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.
rail
to utter bitter complaint or vehement denunciation (often followed by or )
raiment
clothing; apparel; attire.
ramification
a related or derived subject, problem, etc.; outgrowth; consequence; implication
rationale
the fundamental reason or reasons serving to account for something.
rebus
a representation of a word or phrase by pictures, symbols, etc., that suggest that word or phrase or its syllables
recluse
a person who lives in seclusion or apart from society, often for religious meditation.
redoubtable
that is to be feared; formidable.
refulgent
shining brightly; radiant; gleaming
regale
to entertain lavishly or agreeably; delight.
remonstrate
to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval.
renege
to go back on one's word
reparation
compensation in money, material, labor, etc., payable by a defeated country to another country or to an individual for loss suffered during or as a result of war.
repine
to be fretfully discontented; fret; complain.
resolve
firmness of purpose or intent; determination.
riposte
a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke
debonair
courteous, gracious, and having a sophisticated charm
prolepsis
the anticipation of possible objections in order to answer them in advance
antiphrasis
the use of a word in a sense opposite to its proper meaning
syncrisis
the comparison of opposites
trial
the examination before a judicial tribunal of the facts put in issue in a cause, often including issues of law as well as those of fact
paradox
a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth
refute
to prove to be false or erroneous, as an opinion or charge
mundane
pertaining to this world or earth as contrasted with heaven; earthly, common, ordinary, banal or unimaginative
advocate
to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly
extant
still existing, not destroyed or lost
equivocate
to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead
imperturbable
incapable of being upset or agitated; not easily excited, calm
qualify
to modify or limit in some way; make less strong or positive
irony
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning; an outcome of events contrary to what was expected
ambiguous
having several possible meanings or interpretations; difficult to distinguish or classify
ensure
to secure or guarantee; to make certain
eccentric
a person who has an unusual, peculiar, or odd personality, set of beliefs, or behavior pattern
subsequent
occurring or coming later or after; following in order or succession
intrinsic
belonging to a thing by its very nature
connotation
the set of attributes constituting the meaning of a term, determining the range of objects to which that term may be applied
principle
a fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which others are derived
principal
first or highest in rank, importance, value
aggregate
to combine and form a collection of something
viable
capable of becoming actual, useful; practicable
premise
to set forth beforehand, as by way of introduction or explanation; to assume, either explicitly or implicitly, as a premise for a conclusion
prominent
standing out so as to be seen easily; conspicuous; particularly noticeable
contingent
dependent on something conditional that may or may not happen
anomaly
a deviation from the common rule or arrangement; an odd condition
indigenous
originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country
impetus
a moving force, impulse or stimulus
implication
something implied or suggested as naturally to be inferred or understood
eschew
to abstain or keep away from; shun or avoid
necessary
something requisite such that a denial of it involves a self-contradiction
preclude
to prevent the presence, existence, or occurrence of; to make impossible
contrary
in opposition, counter
sustain
to support, hold, or bear up from below
phenomenon
a fact, occurrence, or circumstance observed; something that is impressive or extraordinary
hypothetical
assumed by hypothesis; when unproven factors are assumed to exist
fallacy
a deceptive, misleading, or false notion, belief, or an unsound argument
contingency
dependence on chance or on the fulfillment of a condition
inference
the process of deriving conclusions or facts by reasoning
coherent
logically connected and consistent
analytic
skilled in determining the elements or essential features and critically examine an element or argument
sedentary
accustomed to sitting a great deal and to take little exercise
conform
to act in accordance to rules
entail
involve by necessity or as a consequence
circumvent
to avoid defeat by artfulness or deception, or to avoid by anticipating or outwitting
contention
a point made in an argument
cryptic
mysterious in meaning, abrupt, terse or short
correlation
mutual relation of two or more things
proposition
the act of offering or suggesting something to be considered, accepted or adopted; an offer of terms for a transaction, as in business
emphasis
special stress laid upon, or importance attached to, anything; the intensity or force of expression or action
assertion
a positive statement or declaration, often without support or reason
sufficient
adequate for the purpose; enough
compel
to drive to a course of action or to force to submit
ample
more than adequate for the purpose or needs; plentiful
oblige
to require or constrain, as by law, command, conscience, or force of necessity
impediment
obstruction, hindrance or obstacle
prevaricate
to speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately misstate or create an incorrect impression
temporal
pertaining to time
undermine
to injure or destroy by insidious activity or imperceptible stages, sometimes tending toward a sudden dramatic effect
impose
to be put upon by an authority, such as a penalty
crucial
involving an extremely important decision or result; critical
claim
a demand for something, an assertion of a right or an assertion of something as a fact
endorse
to approve, support, or sustain
subsidiary
serving to assist or supplement; auxiliary or supplementary
unequivocal
not equivocal; unambiguous; clear; having only one possible meaning or interpretation
liability
debts or pecuniary obligations as opposed to assets; something disadvantageous
constitute
to establish or give legal form
converse
something opposite or contrary; a proposition obtained from another proposition by conversion
alternative
a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, the selection of which precludes any other possibility
derive
to come from a source or origin; originate
justify
to show to be right; to defend or uphold as warranted or well-grounded
particular
an individual or distinct part, as an item of a list or enumeration; a specific point, detail or circumstance
incoherent
without logical or meaningful connection
rebuttal
an act of refuting or responding to an argument, as in a debate
pundit
a learned person, expert, or authority who makes comments or judgments in an authoritative manner
posit
to lay down or assume as a fact or principle; postulate
verify
to prove the truth of, as by evidence or testimony; confirm
induction
a conclusion drawn from asserted or established propositions on the basis of observations on a number of particular facts
proportion
comparative relation between things or magnitudes as to size, quantity or number; ratio
solely
exclusively or only
valid
sound, just, well-founded; effective and authoritative
intention
an instance of determining upon some action or result; purpose or attitude toward the effect of one's actions or conduct
accumulate
to gather or collect, often in gradual degrees; heap up
aggravate
to make more severe or intensify; to annoy or irritate
skeptic
a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual
afford
to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect
inflation
a persistent, substantial rise in the general level of prices related to an increase in the volume of money, resulting in a loss of value
synthetic
involving the combining of the constituent elements of separate material or abstract entities into a single, unified entity
betray
expose to an enemy by treachery; to disappoint the hopes or expectations of
condition
a stipulation in an agreement transferring property that provides for a change consequent on the occurrence of an event
placebo
a substance having no pharmacological effect but given merely to satisfy a patient who supposes it to be a medicine
indicate
evidence; to point out or point to
deduction
something that is or may be concluded by deriving from something known or inferred
correspond
to be in agreement or conformity; to be similar or analogous, equivalent in function, position or amount
advance
to move forward, suggest or propose; to improve or to promote
opposition
the action of resisting, or combating; a person or group of people opposing, criticizing, or protesting something
property
the possession or possessions of a particular owner including goods and land
improbable
not probable; unlikely to be true or to happen
jurisprudence
the science or philosophy of law, a body or system of laws
hearsay
unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another and not part of one's direct knowledge
inconsistent
lacking in harmony between the different parts or elements; self-contradictory or lacking agreement
generalization
asserting that something is true of all members of a certain class or of an indefinite part of that class, leaving distinctions within the class aside
presuppose
to suppose or assume beforehand; to require or imply as an antecedent condition
predispose
to give an inclination or tendency to beforehand; make susceptible
incompatible
not compatible; unable to exist together in harmony
consequent
following as an effect or result; following as a logical conclusion
categorical
without exceptions or conditions; absolute; unqualified and unconditional
circular
reasoning in which the conclusion is ostensibly proved, but in actuality it has been assumed as a premise
aporia
the expression of a simulated or real doubt, as about where to begin or what to do or say
superordinate
of higher degree in condition or rank; related to a particular proposition of the same quality and containing the same terms in the same order
concinnity
a close harmony of tone and logic among the elements of a discourse
vicious circle
the use of each of two terms to define the other, neither fully able to be sustained without the other
obversion
an act or instance of obverting, or turning something around
biconditional
a proposition asserting that the existence or occurrence of one thing is dependent on the existence of another, as ?A if and only if B?
decidable
having the property that its consistency or inconsistency with the axioms of a given logical system is determinable
law of contradiction
the law that a proposition cannot be both true and false or that a thing cannot both have and not have a given property
antilogism
a group of three inconsistent propositions, two of which are premises of a syllogism that contradict the third
antecedent
a preceding circumstance or event; the history, events and characteristics of one's earlier life
oligarchy
a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.
profound
penetrating or entering deeply into subjects of thought or knowledge; having deep insight or understanding
prohibitive
sufficing to prevent the use, purchase, etc., of something
provident
having or showing foresight; providing carefully for the future.
puissant
powerful; mighty; potent.
punctilious
extremely attentive to punctilios strict or exact in the observance of the formalities or amenities of conduct or actions.
purport
to present, especially deliberately, the appearance of being; profess or claim, often falsely
pusillanimous
lacking courage or resolution; cowardly; faint-hearted; timid.
quagmire
a situation from which extrication is very difficult
quail
to lose heart or courage in difficulty or danger; shrink with fear.
qualm
a sudden feeling of apprehensive uneasiness; misgiving
query
to ask questions of.
quorum
the number of members of a group or organization required to be present to transact business legally, usually a majority.
raconteur
a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.
rail
to utter bitter complaint or vehement denunciation (often followed by or )
raiment
clothing; apparel; attire.
ramification
a related or derived subject, problem, etc.; outgrowth; consequence; implication
rationale
the fundamental reason or reasons serving to account for something.
rebus
a representation of a word or phrase by pictures, symbols, etc., that suggest that word or phrase or its syllables
recluse
a person who lives in seclusion or apart from society, often for religious meditation.
redoubtable
that is to be feared; formidable.
refulgent
shining brightly; radiant; gleaming
regale
to entertain lavishly or agreeably; delight.
remonstrate
to say or plead in protest, objection, or disapproval.
renege
to go back on one's word
reparation
compensation in money, material, labor, etc., payable by a defeated country to another country or to an individual for loss suffered during or as a result of war.
repine
to be fretfully discontented; fret; complain.
resolve
firmness of purpose or intent; determination.
riposte
a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke
debonair
courteous, gracious, and having a sophisticated charm
Flash Cards
