*sophistic*

{ } a. Of or pertaining to the love or practice of sophistry. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }, a. [ L. sophisticus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. sophistique. ] Of or pertaining to a sophist; embodying sophistry; fallaciously subtile; not sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

His argument . . . is altogether sophistical. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- So*phis"tic*al*ly, adv. -- So*phis"tic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Sophisticated p. pr. & vb. n. Sophisticating. ] [ LL. sophisticatus, p. p. of sophisticare to sophisticate. ] To render worthless by admixture; to adulterate; to damage; to pervert; as, to sophisticate wine. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

To sophisticate the understanding. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet Butler professes to stick to plain facts, not to sophisticate, not to refine. M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

They purchase but sophisticated ware. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To adulterate; debase; corrupt; vitiate. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Adulterated; not pure; not genuine. [ 1913 Webster ]

So truth, while only one supplied the state,
Grew scare and dear, and yet sophisticate. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. LL. sophisticatio, F. sophistication. ] The act of sophisticating; adulteration; as, the sophistication of drugs. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who sophisticates. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to theosophy; theosophical. [ 1913 Webster ]