Definition:
An informally stated syllogism with an implied premise. Adjective: enthymematic. See also:
Etymology:
From the Greek, "piece of reasoning"Examples and Observations:
- "Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown. Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious."
(William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar III.ii) - "If it's Borden's, it's got to be good."
(advertising slogan) - "One of the Soviet Georgia's senior citizens thought Dannon was an excellent yogurt. She ought to know. She's been eating yogurt for 137 years."
(1970s television advertisement for Dannon Yogurt) - "This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?"
(The Partnership for a Drug-Free America) - "Want him to be more of a man? Try being more of a woman!"
(advertising slogan for Coty perfume) - "In an enthymeme, the speaker builds an argument with one element removed, leading listeners to fill in the missing piece. On May 1, speaking from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, President Bush said, 'The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on September the 11th, 2001, and still goes on. . . . With those attacks, the terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States. And war is what they got.' This is classic enthymematic argumentation: We were attacked on Sept. 11, so we went to war against Iraq. The missing piece of the argument--'Saddam was involved in 9/11'--didn't have to be said aloud for those listening to assimilate its message."
(Paul Waldman, Washington Post, Sep. 2003) - "Hungry? Grab a Snickers."
(advertising slogan for Snickers chocolate bar) - "If you have been healed or saved or blessed through TBN and have not contributed . . . you are robbing God and will lose your reward in heaven."
(Paul Crouch, co-founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, quoted by William Lobdell, The Week, August 10, 2007)
Pronunciation: EN-tha-meem
