adv. Also 4 sofistically, 4–5 -ali, 5 -aly; 5 sophisticali, 5–6 sophystycally, 7 sophystically. [f. prec. + -LY2.] In a sophistical manner; fallaciously; with deceptive subtlety.
1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxxvii. 23. Who sofistically speketh, is hateful.
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., VI. ix. in Ashm. (1652), 163. The Mater ys alterate, Both inward and outward substancyally, And not … sophystycally.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 68. Me semethe, that those men that holde that opinyon, speke sophystycallye.
1584. Fenner, Def. Ministers (1587), C 2. That whiche by our wordes he can not gather, he sophisticallie inferreth vpon them.
1638. Chillingw., Relig. Prot., I. iv. § 66. 228. You abuse D. Potter and your Reader, by taking sophistically without limitation, that which is delivered with limitation.
1697. G. Keith, 2nd Narr. Proc. Turners-Hall, 5. He Defends himself most Sophistically.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 92. By these theorists the right of the people is almost always sophistically confounded with their power.
1855. Pusey, Doctr. Real Presence, iii. (1869), 333. Calvin was far too acute, not to have been conscious, that he was arguing sophistically in both these instances.
1892. Times, 7 Dec., 9/5. Those who praise the Codes of France and Germany at the expense of English law often talk loosely and sophistically and unjustly.
