a. Also 5–6 sophystycal(l, 6 -ysticall, 6–7 sophisticall. [See prec. and -AL.]
1. = SOPHISTIC a. 2.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 390/1. Logyke is deuyded … in demonstratyf, in probable, and in sophystycal.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. (1811), 649. Whereunto a sophystycall answere was made by the kyng.
1550. Bale, Eng. Votaries, II. 116 b. Wherfore they sought firste of all to bring them vndre by sophistycall sorceryes.
1642. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 60. 109. They enforce the condition of God, and in a more sophisticall way doe seeme to challenge Heaven.
1655–87. H. More, App. Antid. (1712), 192. That this perfect Being doth exist, is false and sophistical.
1771. Junius Lett., lxi. (1788), 328. The sophistical distinction you attempt to draw between the person injured, and the person injuring.
1825. McCulloch, Pol. Econ. II. ii. 125. At first sight, this sophistical and delusive statement appears sufficiently conclusive.
1864. Bowen, Logic, ix. 271. We … take into view all cases of defective and sophistical argumentation.
2. = SOPHISTIC a. 1.
1535. Coverdale, Bible, Prol. All the gloses of oure sophisticall doctours.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, IV. xxxii. 259. Aristophanes … regarded the sophistical circles with abhorrence.
1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., xviii. 468. He is fluent and sophistical,—a sure token of feeble wisdom and lack of sound argument.
1884. Daily News, 24 July, 4/6. The question between the two Houses is one which the simplest can understand, and which the most sophistical cannot obscure.
† 3. a. Employed for the purpose of adulteration or deception. Obs.
1558. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr., I. VI. (1580), 110 b. If the woorke bee of Copper, made white by any Sophisticall substaunce.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., I. vi. 41. There be some that commit Fornication in Chymistry, by heterogeneous and sophistical Citrinations.
1680. C. Nesse, Church Hist., 272. Not setting out her beauty with sophistical paint.
† b. Adulterated; sophisticated. Obs.–1
1613. T. Godwyn, Rom. Antiq. (1658), 180. He that had sold any corrupt or sophistical wares.
Hence † Sophisticalness. Obs.
1661. in Phœnix (1721), I. 68. Having so plainly demonstrated the Sophisticalness of Origen’s Arguments.
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), Sophisticalness, Captiousness, Deceitfulness; sophistical Quality.
