A logical argument or syllogism that includes reasons or explanations for its premises, rather than just stating the premises alone.
From Greek epi- (upon) + cheirēma (thing done by hand, from cheir meaning hand). The term comes from ancient Greek logic and rhetoric, where it described a more elaborate form of argumentation than a simple syllogism.
This word captures an ancient debate about argumentation that's still relevant today: is it better to just state your logical conclusion, or to show your work? The Greek root 'cheir' (hand) is the same one that gives us 'chiropractor' and 'surgery'—ancient logicians thought of arguments as things you could handle and manipulate.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.