Obs. [f. SOPHIST or SOPHISTER: see -ESS.] A female sophist.

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1631.  Mabbe, Celestina, iv. 45. Like a prevaricating Sophistresse … playing the traitour on both sides.

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1671.  H. M., trans. Erasm. Colloq., 243. I think thou art some sophistress, thou pratest so wittily.

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1725.  Bailey, Erasm. Colloq. (1878), I. 213. Ma. But may I play the Sophister with you now? Pa. The Sophistress.

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