specious argument
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specious argument — noun an argument that appears good at first view but is really fallacious • Hypernyms: ↑argument, ↑statement • Hyponyms: ↑vicious circle, ↑straw man, ↑strawman, ↑special pleading … Useful english dictionary
Specious — Spe cious, a. [L. speciosusgood looking, beautiful, specious, fr. species look, show, appearance; cf. F. sp[ e]coeux. See {Species}.] 1. Presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy. [1913 Webster] Some [serpents] specious… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
specious — specious, spurious Specious, like the Latin word speciosus from which it is derived, began its life meaning ‘having a fine outward appearance’ (from Latin species ‘outward form’), but in the 17c acquired the unfavourable connotations that now… … Modern English usage
specious — I adjective affected, apparent, appearing, artificial, assumed, believable, bogus, casuistic, casuistical, colorable, colored, convincing, counterfeit, credible, deceiving, deceptive, deluding, delusive, delusory, erroneous, exterior, external,… … Law dictionary
specious — spe|cious [ˈspi:ʃəs] adj formal [Date: 1300 1400; : Latin; Origin: speciosus beautiful, easily believed , from species; SPECIES] seeming to be true or correct, but actually false ▪ a specious argument … Dictionary of contemporary English
specious — spe|cious [ spiʃəs ] adjective seeming to be true but in fact wrong: a specious argument … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
specious — adjective formal seeming to be true or correct, but actually false: a specious argument speciously adverb speciousness noun (U) … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
specious — UK [ˈspiːʃəs] / US [ˈspɪʃəs] adjective seeming to be true but in fact wrong a specious argument … English dictionary
specious — adj. 1 superficially plausible but actually wrong (a specious argument). 2 misleadingly attractive in appearance. Derivatives: speciosity n. speciously adv. speciousness n. Etymology: ME, = beautiful, f. L speciosus (as SPECIES) … Useful english dictionary
argument — noun 1 discussion ADJECTIVE ▪ bitter, heated, violent ▪ big ▪ I had a big argument with my mother this morning. ▪ little, petty … Collocations dictionary