A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1549-1584
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Sophist, n. [e.m.E. sophist (1542), L. sophistes, sophista, f. the Gk. Cf. F. sophiste (1370 in Larousse).] A sophist, one who employs fallacious or specious reasoning. Also attrib. — 1567 Satirical Poems vi 125.
Ane cursit byke that cheiflie dois maling, In Abirdene, of Sophistis the welspring 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 21b.
Ane folische auld cairl, ane vyndie sophist, ye all men presumes to haue the treu knaulage of theologie 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv 52.
Now Holyglass, returning hame, To play the sophist thought no schame —attrib. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 183/22.
The sophist logicinaris per chance may argou, that tua contrareis can nocht be baytht false
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"Sophist n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/sophist>
