beg the question

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To engage in the logical fallacy of begging the question (petitio principii).
  2. To sidestep or fail to address a question.
  3. To raise or prompt a question.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-beg the question.wav

Word forms

beg the question begs the question begging the question begged the question

Etymology

Translating Latin petītiō prīncipiī, itself translating Ancient Greek τὸ ἐν ἀρχῇ αἰτεῖσθαι (tò en arkhēî aiteîsthai, “to assume from the beginning”).

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