eristic

[ e-ris-tik ]

adjective

1. Also eristical. pertaining to controversy or disputation; controversial.

noun

1. a person who engages in disputation; controversialist.
2. the art of disputation.

eristic

/ ɛˈrɪstɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating, or given to controversy or logical disputation, esp for its own sake

noun

1. a person who engages in logical disputes; a controversialist
2. the art or practice of logical disputation, esp if specious

Other Words From

• er·is·ti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of eristic¹

1630–40; < Greek eristikós, equivalent to erist ( ós ) (verbid of erízein, derivative of éris discord) + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of eristic¹

C17: from Greek eristikos, from erizein to wrangle, from eris discord

Example Sentences

What eristic discipline they brought to their sciolistic quibbles, though prone to occasional bursts of rodomontade!

From Washington Post

He forms the connecting link between the first great sophists, Protagoras and Prodicus, and the innumerable eristics who brought their name into disrepute.

From Project Gutenberg

He fought the combat syllogistic With so much skill and art eristic, That though you were the learned Stagyrite, At once upon the hip he had you right.

From Project Gutenberg

Sophistry, logomachy, eristic: we may learn what these are, sometimes, from Plato's own practice.

From Project Gutenberg

To know how to proceed by regular steps from one to many, and from many to one, is just what makes the difference between eristic and dialectic.

From Project Gutenberg