a fortiori
/ˌeɪ fɔːtɪˈɔːrʌɪ
/ /ˌɑː fɔːtɪˈɔːriː/adverb & adjective
Used to express a conclusion for which there is stronger evidence than for a previously accepted one: [as adverb]: they reject all absolute ideas of justice, and a fortiori the natural-law position...
- Were it not so, we should have required the a fortiori reasoning for the third degree only.
- In this way the connexive concept of implication accounts for a necessary presupposition of all conditional and a fortiori logical orientation.
- What then is the conclusion which in true a fortiori fashion is supposed to follow resoundingly from the weaker premise?
Origin
Early 17th century: Latin, from a fortiori argumento 'from stronger argument'.
Rhymes
- middle oil
- middle order
- middle passage
- middle path
- middle peasant
- middle period
- Middle Persian
- middle piece
- Middle Platonism
- Middle Platonist
- middle post
- middle power
- middle price
- middler
- middle rail
- middle-range
- middle rank
- middle-ranking
- middle relief
- middle reliever
- middle rib
- middle road
- middle-roader
- Middlesbrough
- middlescence