enthymeme

[ en-thuh-meem ]

noun

, Logic.

1. a syllogism or other argument in which a premise or the conclusion is unexpressed.

enthymeme

/ ˈɛnθɪˌmiːm /

noun

1. an incomplete syllogism, in which one or more premises are unexpressed as their truth is considered to be self-evident
2. any argument some of whose premises are omitted as obvious

Derived Forms

• ˌenthymeˈmatic, adjective

Other Words From

• en·thy·me·mat·ic [en-th, uh, -mee-, mat, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of enthymeme¹

1580–90; < Latin enthȳmēma < Greek enthȳ́mēma thought, argument, equivalent to enthȳmē-, variant stem of enthȳmeîsthai to ponder ( en- en- ² + -thȳmeîsthai verbal derivative of thȳmós spirit, thought) + -ma noun suffix of result

Word History and Origins

Origin of enthymeme¹

C16: via Latin from Greek enthumēma, from enthumeisthai to infer (literally: to have in the mind), from en- ² + thumos mind

Example Sentences

It is a common way of hiding a weak point to cover it in the suppressed premise of an enthymeme.

From Project Gutenberg

Aristotle used Enthymeme in the wider sense of an elliptically expressed argument.

From Project Gutenberg

One form of enthymeme is so common in modern rhetoric as to deserve a distinctive name.

From Project Gutenberg

In the bald, simple forms here set down, the syllogism and enthymeme are hardly suited to delivery in speeches.

From Project Gutenberg

Logic proceeds by induction and syllogism, rhetoric by the enthymeme, and poetic by the example.

From Project Gutenberg