%ophism%

n. 1. Doctrines and rites of the Ophites. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Serpent worship or the use of serpents as magical agencies. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. The care and support of orphans. [ R. ] Cotton Mather (1711). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. philosophisme. ] Spurious philosophy; the love or practice of sophistry. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. sophisme, L. sophisma, fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to make wise, &unr_; to be become wise, to play the sophist, fr. &unr_; wise. ] The doctrine or mode of reasoning practiced by a sophist; hence, any fallacy designed to deceive. [ 1913 Webster ]

When a false argument puts on the appearance of a true one, then it is properly called a sophism, or “fallacy”. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let us first rid ourselves of sophisms, those of depraved men, and those of heartless philosophers. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]