sophister (sofister)

[ nal, as in philosopher.] 1. A man of learning; a teacher; specifically, a profe ional teacher of philosophy; a sophist. mune, And zut the i seien sothliche, and so doth the Sarrasyns, That Iesus was bote a Iogelour, a Iaper a-monge the coAnd a sophistre of sorcerie and pseudo-prophet a. Piers Plowman (C), xviii. 811. As the sophister said in the Greek comedy, "Clouds become any thing as they are represented." Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 688. 2. A sophist; a quibbler; a subtle and fallacious reasoner. These impudent sophisters , who deny matter of fact with so steeled a front. Evelyn, True Religion, Pref., p. xxx. You very cunningly put a Question about Wine, by a French Trick, which I believe you learn'd at Paris, that you may save your Wine by that Means. Ah, go your Way; I see you're a Sophister . N. Bailey , tr. of Colloquies of Erasmus, I. 74. The age of chivalry is gone: that of sophisters , economists, and calculators has succeeded. Burke , Rev. in France. 3. In English universities, a student advanced beyond the first year of his residence, now generally called a soph . At Cambridge during the first year the students have the title of freshmen , or first - year men; during the second, second-year men, or junior sophs or sophisters; and during the third year, third - year men , or senior sophs or sophisters . In the older American colleges the junior and senior cla es were originally called sophisters and senior sophisters. The terms were years in Dublin University. Compare sophomore . similarly applied to students in their third er fourth I have known the railing est sophisters in an university sit non plus. G. Harvey, Four Letters. In case any of the Sophisters fail in the premises required at their hands. Quincy, Hist. Harvard Univ., I. 518 (Hall's College Words). sophistert (sof'is-ter), v. t. [ sophistic (so-fis'tik), a. and n. [ sophistical. But we know nothing till, by poaring still On Books, we get vs a Sophistik skill. Sylvester , tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Furies. Sophistic quantity. See quantity . - Sophistic syllogism, a deceptive syllogism invented for gain. II. n. The methods of the Greek sophists; sophistry.