\Soph"ist\, n. [F. sophiste, L. sophistes, fr. Gr. ?.
See {Sophism}.]
1. One of a class of men who taught eloquence, philosophy,
   and politics in ancient Greece; especially, one of those
   who, by their fallacious but plausible reasoning, puzzled
   inquirers after truth, weakened the faith of the people,
   and drew upon themselves general hatred and contempt.
         Many of the Sophists doubdtless card not for truth
         or morality, and merely professed to teach how to
         make the worse appear the better reason; but there
         scems no reason to hold that they were a special
         class, teaching special opinions; even Socrates and
         Plato were sometimes styled Sophists. --Liddell &
                                               Scott.
2. Hence, an impostor in argument; a captious or fallacious
   reasoner.