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Origin and history of syllogism

syllogism(n.)

late 14c., silogisme, "logical formula consisting of two premises and a conclusion," from Old French silogisme "a syllogism, scholastic argument based on a formula or proof" (13c., Modern French syllogisme) and directly from Latin syllogismus, from Greek syllogismos "a syllogism," originally "inference, conclusion; computation, calculation." This is from syllogizesthai "bring together before the mind, compute, conclude," literally "think together," from assimilated form of syn- "together" (see syn-) + logizesthai "to reason, count," from logos "a reckoning, reason" (see Logos).

The classical spelling in -y- was restored from c. 1520. To syllogize "argue by syllogisms" is attested from early 15c., from Old French silogiser, Medieval Latin syllogizare. Related: Syllogized; syllogizing.

The names of the different varieties, called moods of syllogism, are given by Petrus Hispanus in these hexameters:
Barbara: Celarent: Darii: Ferio: Baralipton:
Celantes: Dabitis: Fapesmo: Frisesomorum:
Cesare: Camestres: Festin: Baroco: Darapti:
Felapton: Disamis: Datisi: Bocardo: Ferison.
[Century Dictionary]



also from late 14c.

Entries linking to syllogism

Logos(n.)

1580s, "the divine Word, second person of the Christian Trinity," from Greek logos "word, speech, statement, discourse," also "a computation, account," also "reason, judgment, understanding," from PIE *log-o-, suffixed form of root *leg- (1) "to collect, gather," with derivatives meaning "to speak," on notion of "to pick out words." The Greek word was used by Neo-Platonists in metaphysical and theological senses involving notions of both "reason" and "word" and subsequently picked up by New Testament writers.

syllogistic(adj.)

"pertaining to or consisting of a syllogism," mid-15c., silogistik, from Latin syllogisticus or directly from Greek syllogistikos, from syllogizesthai (see syllogism). Related: Syllogistical; syllogistically.

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enthymeme
"a syllogism in which one premise is omitted," in Aristotle, "an inference from likelihoods and signs," 1580s, from Latin...
minor
From c. 1400 as "minor premise of a syllogism."...
assumption
The meaning "minor premise of a syllogism" is late 14c....
conclusion
late 14c., "deduction or inference reached by reasoning, result of a discussion or examination," from Old French conclusion "conclusion, result, outcome," from Latin conclusionem (nominative conclusio), noun of action from past-participle stem of concludere "to shut up, enclose"
ratiocination
"process of reasoning, mental process of passing from the cognition of premises to the cognition of the conclusion," 1520s, from Latin ratiocinationem (nominative ratiocinatio) "a reasoning, calm reasoning," noun of action from past-participle stem of ratiocinari "to reckon, comp
synthesis
1610s, "deductive reasoning," from Latin synthesis "collection, set or service of plate, suit of clothes, composition (of a medication)," from Greek synthesis "composition, a putting together," also used of syllables and words, from syntithenai "put together, combine," from syn-
deduction
early 15c., deduccioun, "a bringing, a leading;" mid-15c., "action of deducting; a taking away, a number or amount subtracted," from Old French deduction (Modern French déduction) and directly from Latin deductionem (nominative deductio) "a leading away, an escorting; a diminutio
blue
"of the color of the clear sky," c. 1300, bleu, blwe, etc., "sky-colored," also "livid, lead-colored," from Old French blo, bleu "pale, pallid, wan, light-colored; blond; discolored; blue, blue-gray," from Frankish *blao or some other Germanic source, from Proto-Germanic *blæwaz
switch
1590s, "slender riding whip," probably from a variant of a Flemish or Low German word akin to Middle Dutch swijch "bough, twig," or from swutsche, variant of Low German zwukse "long thin stick, switch," from Germanic *swih- (source also of Old High German zwec "wooden peg," Germa
presume
late 14c., presumen, "to take upon oneself, to take liberty," also "to take for granted, believe or accept upon probable evidence, presuppose," especially overconfidently, from Old French presumer (12c.) and directly from Latin praesumere "anticipate," in Late Latin, "assume," fr

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