a pattern of deductive reasoning consisting of two premises and a conclusion, e.g. ‘all men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore Socrates is mortal’
syllogistic /-ʹjistik/ adj
syllogistically /-ʹjistikli/ adv
[Middle English silogisme via French and Latin from Greek syllogismos, from syllogizesthai to syllogize, from syn- + logizesthai to calculate, from logos reckoning, word]