Middle English Dictionary Entry
sophī̆m(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sophī̆m(e n. Also sophimme, sofim(e, soffim(e, sophisme, sophem(e; pl. sophemes, etc. & (error) sossyngs. |
| Etymology | OF sofisme, sofime, soffime, sophisme & L sophisma. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A subtle but fallacious argument usu. used to deceive, a sophism; under a ~, by means of a sophism; (b) an ambiguous and sometimes paradoxical sentence, often involving syncategoremata, designed to investigate issues and rules in philosophy, semantics, and logic, a sophisma; any question for disputation in logic.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.431 : Þe kyng..upbroyde hem and snarlede hem wiþ sotil sophyms.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.554 : Ne koude man by twenty thousand part Countrefete the sophymes of his art, Ne were worthy vnbokele his galoche Ther doublenesse or feynyng sholde approche.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.37.23 : He that spekith bi soffym [vrr. sofisticaly ethir bi soffemys; sofisticali ether to deceive] is hateful; he schal be defraudid in ech thing.
- ?c1430 Wycl.PSacr.(Corp-C 296)227 : Þis is a foul soffyme, a foul and a sotil disceit.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)462 : Sofyme: Sophisma.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)78 : The deuele told him undir a sophim he schul neuyr deye but at ierusalem.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.817 : I graunted yow to haue a gouernour; Therfore ye sey, fully I yaue you leue To haue a kyng..late be youre sophym, your termes arn but sour..Ðe shal not make an elne of an vnch.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.228 : She shal fyghte A-geyn the heresye of philosophie; Of alle her resones she shal rekken but lyghte, Thou þei her sophems sotyly multyplie.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)108/32 : Seiyng þat y procede noon oþir wise þan vndir a sophim, for as mych as y procede vndir a distinccioun of prechyng.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1672 : Elenchus ys a syllogysme, Or by fallaas, a Sophisme, Thyng that hath on Apparence With-outen eny Existence; Or an argument in shewynge Wych in effect hath no beynge Affter the thyng that yt doth shewe.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)116b : A Sofim: sophisma.
- a1500 Wast bryngyth (Cmb Ff.2.38)st.13 : In wordys of dowble entendement, In poisie, in sopheme resone hydes; Then mysty wordys owtward wente, The bryght wordys in þe breste abydes. Therby lewde men ofte ben schente That kunne not see to boþe sydes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2932 : With flatery, & faire wordys fallyn to gedur, Acoyntyng hom with kissyng & clippyng in Armes, With Sossyngs [?read: Soffymys] & Sotelte, Settyng of cases, The willes of wemen wightly þai chaunge.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.5 : This day ne herde I of youre tonge a word, I trowe ye studie aboute som sophyme [vr. sophymme].
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)149/218 : I am þe same skoler..And all þir resons þat þou here sese War my sophims and sotiltese.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)149/251 : All uain stodis I here forsake..Fynd sophims, þat clerkes in affyes, I leue to crakes þat crobbes & cryes; All sutill sayinges and unsertayne I leue þam all.
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)6 : Þei traueilen faste in aristole [vr. Aristotile] and newe sophymes to ben clepyd maistres.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)105/6 : Þies er sophyms & subtelties, whare-in I wastis all my dayes.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1851 : Dame Dialetica was set y wys..Her parlour fresshe, hyr clothyng prowde and stoute, Of 'differt,' 'scire,' and of 'incipit,' Wyth sophyms [vr. sophysmes] full depeyntyd was aboute.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1868 : Fast they dispute[n] in theyr comonyng, Of [read: Wyth] sophyms strong, straunge matyers they dyscus.