reductio ad absurdum
English
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from Latin reductiō ad absurdum.
Noun
reductio ad absurdum (uncountable)
- (mathematics, logic) The method of disproving a statement by assuming the statement is true and, with that assumption, arriving at a blatant contradiction.
- Synonyms: apagoge, proof by contradiction
Derived terms
Translations
proof by contradiction — see proof by contradiction
Latin
Etymology
Possibly a loose calque of Ancient Greek ἡ εἰς τὸ ἀδύνατον ἀπόδειξις (hē eis tò adúnaton apódeixis, “demonstration towards the impossible”).
Noun
reductiō ad absurdum f sg (genitive reductiōnis ad absurdum); third declension
- reductio ad absurdum; reduction to the absurd
Declension
Third-declension noun with an indeclinable portion, singular only.
| Case | Singular |
|---|---|
| Nominative | reductiō ad absurdum |
| Genitive | reductiōnis ad absurdum |
| Dative | reductiōnī ad absurdum |
| Accusative | reductiōnem ad absurdum |
| Ablative | reductiōne ad absurdum |
| Vocative | reductiō ad absurdum |
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