Chapter Soosoo to Sora of S by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Soph
(Soph) n. (Eng. Univ.) A contraction of Soph ister. [Colloq.]

Soph
(Soph), n. (Amer. Colleges) A contraction of Sophomore. [Colloq.]

Sophi
(So"phi) n.; pl. Sophis See Sufi.

Sophic
(Soph"ic Soph"ic*al) , a. Teaching wisdom. [Obs.] S. Harris.

Sophime
(So*phime") n. [OF. soffime, sophisme.] Sophism. [Obs.]

I trow ye study aboute some sophime.

Chaucer.

Sophism
(Soph"ism) n. [F. sophisme, L. sophisma, fr. Gr. fr. to make wise, to be become wise, to play the sophist, fr. wise.] The doctrine or mode of reasoning practiced by a sophist; hence, any fallacy designed to deceive.

When a false argument puts on the appearance of a true one, then it is properly called a sophism, or "fallacy".

I. Watts.

Let us first rid ourselves of sophisms, those of depraved men, and those of heartless philosophers.

I. Taylor.

Sophist
(Soph"ist), n. [F. sophiste, L. sophistes, fr. Gr. . See Sophism.]

1. One of a class of men who taught eloquence, philosophy, and politics in ancient Greece; especially, one of those who, by their fallacious but plausible reasoning, puzzled inquirers after truth, weakened the faith of the people, and drew upon themselves general hatred and contempt.

Many of the Sophists doubdtless card not for truth or morality, and merely professed to teach how to make the worse appear the better reason; but there scems no reason to hold that they were a special class, teaching special opinions; even Socrates and Plato were sometimes styled Sophists.

Liddell & Scott.

2. Hence, an impostor in argument; a captious or fallacious reasoner.

Sophister
(Soph"ist*er) n.

1. A sophist. See Sophist. [Obs.] Hooker.

2. (Eng. Univ.) A student who is advanced beyond the first year of his residence.

The entire course at the university consists of three years and one term, during which the students have the titles of first- year men, or freshmen; second-year men or junior sophs or sophisters; third-year men, or senior sophs or sophisters; and, in the last term, questionists, with reference to the approaching examination. In the older American colleges, the junior and senior classes were originally called, and in some of them are still called, junior sophisters and senior sophisters.

Sophister
(Soph"ist*er) v. t. To maintain by sophistry, or by a fallacious argument. [Obs.] obham.

Sophistic
(So*phis"tic So*phis"tic*al), a. [L. sophisticus, Gr. : cf. F. sophistique.] Of or pertaining to a sophist; embodying sophistry; fallaciously subtile; not sound.

His argument . . . is altogether sophistical.

Macaulay.

— So*phis"tic*al*ly, adv. — So*phis"tic*al*ness, n.