a. [ad. Gr. ἐνδεικτικός f. ἐνδεικνύναι, f. ἐν in + δεικνύναι to show.] Serving to show or exhibit; probative.
(A name of one of the classes into which the Platonic Dialogues were divided by ancient grammarians or commentators. Cf. Diog. Laert. III. 49.)
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 175/1. Agonistick [discourse is] Endeictick [or] Anatreptick.
1791. Enfield, trans. Brucker’s Hist. Philos., I. 215. The Agonistic dialogues, supposed to resemble the combat, were either Endeictic, as exhibiting a specimen of skill, or Anatreptic, presenting the spectacle of a perfect defeat.
1855. Butler, Lect. Anc. Philos. (1874), 323. Another classification [of Platonic Dialogues] of great antiquity is based vpon the style and purpose of the dialogue,—as maieutick, anatreptick, endeictick, and so forth.
1876. trans. Zeller’s Plato, 97, note.
