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| soph·ist [ sóffist ] (plural soph·ists) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. ancient Greek philosopher: a member of a school of ancient Greek professional philosophers who were expert in and taught the skills of rhetoric, argument, and debate, but were criticized for specious reasoning. The sophists were active before and during the time of Socrates and Plato, who were their main critics.
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2. somebody using clever talk to deceive: a deceptive person who offers clever-sounding but flawed arguments or explanations
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| [Mid-16th century. Via Latin sophista< Greek sophistḗs "master of a craft, man clever in practical affairs," also "cheat" < sophos "skilled in a craft, clever, wise"] |
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