Eristic

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Eristic \E*ris"tic\, Eristical \E*ris"tic*al\, a. [Gr. ?, fr. ?
     to strive, wrangle, ? strife.]
     Controversial. [Archaic]
     [1913 Webster]
  
           A specimen of admirable special pleading in the court


           of eristic logic.                        --Coleridge.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  eristic
       adj : given to disputation for its own sake and often employing
             specious arguments [syn: {eristical}]
       n 1: a person who disputes; who is good at or enjoys controversy
            [syn: {disputant}, {controversialist}]
       2: the art of logical disputation (especially if specious)