a form of argument having several premises and one conclusion, capable of being resolved into a chain of syllogisms, the conclusion of each of which is a premise of the next.
Origin
1545-55; < Latinsōrītēs < Greeksōreítēs literally, heaped, piled up, derivative of sōrós a heap
Your sorites into complexity outdistanced the brevity that you sort of promised.
British Dictionary definitions for sorites
sorites
/sɒˈraɪtiːz/
noun
1.
(logic)
a polysyllogism in which the premises are arranged so that intermediate conclusions are omitted, being understood, and only the final conclusion is stated
a paradox of the form: these few grains of sand do not constitute a heap, and the addition of a single grain never makes what is not yet a heap into a heap: so no matter how many single grains one adds it never becomes a heap
Derived Forms
soritical (sɒˈrɪtɪkəl), soritic, adjective
Word Origin
C16: via Latin from Greek sōreitēs, literally: heaped, from sōros a heap