a. [f. L. Sōcratic-us (see prec.) + -AL.] = SOCRATIC a.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, xiv. (1887), 67. Our children which be no Socraticall saintes.
c. 1618. Moryson, Itin., IV. 305. Yet envious readers more obserue the spotts of errours blotted out, then Socraticall sentences newely added.
1641. ‘Smectymnuus,’ Answ., xvi. 207. And why doth he … like a Socraticall disputant put off the question with question?
1711. Budgell, Spect., No. 197, ¶ 13. This has made some approve the Socratical Way of Reasoning.
1753. Hanway, Trav., II. xviii. (1762), I. 80. This old man was remarkable for his socratical look.
Hence Socratically adv.
1641. ‘Smectymnuus,’ Answ., xiii. 154. This is to answer Socratically, and in answering not to answer.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 421. They disputed Socratically after this manner.
1684. J. Goodman, Winter Evening Confer., III. (1705), 60. Is it such a pleasure to be non-pluss’d in Mood and Figure, that you had rather be snap’d in the Mouse-trap of a Syllogism, than treated Socratically and gentilely?
1751. Harris, Hermes, I. xi. (1765), 209. ’Twas Socratically reasoned…; ’twas Demosthenically spoken.
1896. Sunday Sch. Jrnl., March, 140. He did this not by any statement of his own, but Socratically.
