Also 8 epichirema. [mod.L., a. Gr. ἐπιχείρημα lit. ‘an attempt,’ f. ἐπιχειρέειν to undertake, f. ἐπί upon + χείρ hand.] (See quots.)
Aristotle used the word to denote ‘an attempted proof, such as is used in Dialectic, being something short of a demonstrated conclusion’ (Liddell & Scott); the use defined below is due to a misunderstanding of his meaning.
1721. in Bailey.
1724. Watts, Logic, III. ii. § 6. Epichirema is a Syllogism which contains the Proof of the major or minor, or both, before it draws the Conclusion.
1837–8. Sir W. Hamilton, Logic, xix. (1866), I. 365. A syllogism is now vulgarly called an Epicheirema, when to either of the two premises, or to both, there is annexed a reason for its support.
1870. Jevons, Elem. Logic, xviii. 155. The peculiar name Epicheirema is given to a syllogism when either premise is proved or supported by a reason implying the existence of an imperfectly expressed prosyllogism.
