Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun logical fallacy Appeal to authority, argument from authority or authoritative argument. Sometimes interpreted as an inductive argument or statistical syllogism.
- adjective Of or relating to ad verecundiam.
- adverb In an ad verecundiam manner.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Shortened from the Latin expression argumentum ad verecundiam. From argumentum (meaning "argument") + ad (meaning "to" or "at") + verecundiam, the accusative singular of verecundia (meaning "coyness", "modesty" or "shame").
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Examples
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sionnach commented on the word ad verecundiam
to modesty; appealing to traditional values, reverence for authority or sense of prestige (effective if an opponent is guilty of a perceived breach of decorum)
January 3, 2009
sionnach commented on the word ad verecundiam
"we still keep falling for this, asking smart people to comment about fields they are not qualified to comment wisely on, and thereby commit the ad verecundiam fallacy".
from a comment on the New Scientist, TED 2009 blog.
July 25, 2009
john commented on the word ad verecundiam
Thanks sionnach—it's so pleasing to discover a phrase to describe something you're aware of, but didn't previously have a label for.
Here's a good synopsis of it.
July 26, 2009
jmjarmstrong commented on the word ad verecundiam
JM wonders whatever happened to ad verecundiam.
July 8, 2010