Intellectual

Term	Definition	Example
hypothesis	a proposed explanation based on limited evidence as a starting point for investigation	"The scientist formed a hypothesis about the cause of the disease."
empirical	based on observation or experience rather than theory or logic	"The study relied on empirical data collected over five years."
paradigm	a typical example or pattern of something; a worldview underlying theories	"The discovery forced a paradigm shift in how we understand the universe."
axiom	a statement accepted as true as the basis for argument or inference	"It is an axiom of geometry that parallel lines never meet."
postulate	a thing suggested or assumed as true as the basis for reasoning	"Einstein's postulate that light speed is constant revolutionized physics."
theorem	a general proposition proved by a chain of reasoning	"The Pythagorean theorem describes the relationship between sides of a right triangle."
anomaly	something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected	"The anomaly in the data suggested a flaw in the experimental design."
catalyst	a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction; an agent of change	"The protest served as a catalyst for political reform."
entropy	a measure of disorder or randomness in a system; gradual decline into disorder	"Without maintenance, the garden fell into entropy."
synthesis	the combination of ideas to form a theory; the production of chemical compounds	"Her synthesis of different philosophical traditions was groundbreaking."
osmosis	the gradual absorption of ideas or knowledge; movement of molecules through a membrane	"He seemed to learn languages by osmosis, simply from being around speakers."
symbiosis	a mutually beneficial relationship between different organisms or groups	"The business partnership developed into a true symbiosis."
metamorphosis	a complete change in form or character	"The company underwent a metamorphosis from startup to industry leader."
taxonomy	the classification of things according to their characteristics	"The biologist developed a new taxonomy for classifying the species."
nomenclature	the system of names or terms used in a particular field	"Medical nomenclature can be confusing for patients."
genus	a category in biological classification ranking above species	"Humans belong to the genus Homo."
endemic	native and restricted to a certain place; regularly found among particular people	"The disease was endemic to the tropical region."
pandemic	a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world	"The pandemic spread across continents within months."
etiology	the cause or origin of a disease or condition	"The etiology of the illness remained a mystery to researchers."
prognosis	the likely course or outcome of a disease or situation	"The doctor gave a positive prognosis for full recovery."
pseudoscience	a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method	"Astrology is often considered a pseudoscience."
quantitative	relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something	"The research focused on quantitative analysis of the data."

💬Arguments & Rhetoric22

Term	Definition	Example
rhetoric	the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing	"His rhetoric inspired millions but lacked substance."
polemic	a strong verbal or written attack on someone's opinions or beliefs	"The essay was a polemic against corporate greed."
diatribe	a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something	"His diatribe against the new policy lasted twenty minutes."
tirade	a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation	"She launched into a tirade about the poor service."
harangue	a lengthy and aggressive speech	"The coach's harangue motivated the team to victory."
invective	insulting, abusive, or highly critical language	"The debate devolved into personal invective."
rebuke	an expression of sharp disapproval or criticism	"The public rebuke damaged his reputation."
censure	the expression of formal disapproval	"The senator faced censure for ethical violations."
reproof	an expression of blame or disapproval	"The gentle reproof was more effective than anger."
reprimand	a rebuke, especially an official one	"The employee received a formal reprimand for tardiness."
rebuttal	an argument or evidence that contradicts or refutes something	"Her rebuttal dismantled every point of his argument."
refutation	the action of proving a statement or theory wrong	"The scientist published a complete refutation of the study."
contention	heated disagreement; an assertion in an argument	"His main contention was that the data was unreliable."
assertion	a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief	"Her assertion required substantial evidence to support it."
premise	a previous statement from which another is inferred	"The argument rested on a false premise."
syllogism	a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two premises	"The classic syllogism: All men are mortal, Socrates is a man, therefore Socrates is mortal."
inference	a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning	"The inference was logical but the conclusion was wrong."
deduction	the process of reaching a conclusion by reasoning from general principles	"Through deduction, she solved the mystery."
induction	the process of reaching a general conclusion from specific observations	"Scientific theories are often developed through induction."
corollary	a proposition that follows from one already proved	"A corollary of economic growth is increased consumption."
ethos	the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community	"The company's ethos was built on transparency and trust."
logos	the principle of reason and judgment	"His argument relied on logos rather than emotional appeal."

🧠Philosophy & Thinking22

Term	Definition	Example
epistemology	the theory of knowledge, especially regarding methods and validity	"Epistemology asks how we can know what we know."
ontology	the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being	"Ontology examines what it means for something to exist."
metaphysics	the branch of philosophy dealing with first principles and the nature of reality	"Metaphysics explores questions about existence and reality."
dialectic	the art of investigating truths through discussion and logical argument	"Through dialectic, they arrived at a deeper understanding."
heuristic	a method enabling discovery or problem-solving through practical experience	"Trial and error is a basic heuristic for learning."
zeitgeist	the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history	"The art captured the zeitgeist of the revolutionary era."
weltanschauung	a particular philosophy or view of life; a worldview	"Her weltanschauung was shaped by her upbringing."
a priori	relating to knowledge that is independent of experience	"Mathematical truths are considered a priori knowledge."
a posteriori	relating to knowledge derived from observation or experience	"Scientific knowledge is largely a posteriori."
tautology	a statement that is true by necessity; needless repetition of an idea	"Saying 'free gift' is a tautology since gifts are always free."
paradox	a seemingly absurd statement that may actually be true	"The paradox of choice suggests more options can lead to less satisfaction."
dichotomy	a division into two mutually exclusive or contradictory groups	"The dichotomy between work and life is a false one."
antithesis	a person or thing that is the direct opposite of something	"Her views were the antithesis of his conservative beliefs."
synthesis	the combination of ideas to form a coherent whole	"His philosophy was a synthesis of Eastern and Western thought."
teleology	the explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve	"Teleology asks what purpose evolution serves."
determinism	the doctrine that all events are determined by prior causes	"Hard determinism denies the existence of free will."
solipsism	the view that only one's own mind is sure to exist	"Solipsism is difficult to refute but hard to accept."
existentialism	a philosophy emphasizing individual existence and freedom of choice	"Existentialism holds that we create our own meaning in life."
utilitarianism	the doctrine that actions are right if they benefit the majority	"Utilitarianism weighs the greatest good for the greatest number."
relativism	the doctrine that knowledge and truth exist only in relation to culture or society	"Moral relativism suggests ethics vary by culture."
rationalism	a belief or theory that opinions and actions should be based on reason and knowledge	"Rationalism emphasizes the role of reason in acquiring knowledge."
idealism	the practice of forming or pursuing ideals, especially unrealistically	"Her youthful idealism clashed with the harsh realities of politics."

📚Literary Terms41

Term	Definition	Example
allegory	a story with a hidden meaning, typically moral or political	"Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution."
alliteration	the repetition of initial consonant sounds	"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers demonstrates alliteration."
allusion	an indirect reference to something outside the text	"Calling someone a 'Scrooge' is an allusion to Dickens."
anachronism	something placed in the wrong historical period	"A wristwatch in a Roman epic would be an anachronism."
anaphora	repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses	"Churchill's 'We shall fight' speech uses powerful anaphora."
antithesis	the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases	"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times is an antithesis."
aphorism	a concise statement expressing a general truth	"Actions speak louder than words is a common aphorism."
archetype	a universal symbol or character type recurring across cultures	"The hero's journey is a common archetype in mythology."
catharsis	emotional release or purification through art	"The tragedy provided catharsis for the audience."
denouement	the final resolution of a plot	"The denouement revealed the murderer's identity."
diction	the choice and use of words in speech or writing	"The author's formal diction suited the historical setting."
elegy	a mournful poem lamenting the dead	"Auden wrote an elegy for W.B. Yeats."
epiphany	a sudden realization or insight	"The character's epiphany changed the course of the story."
euphemism	a mild expression substituted for a harsh one	"Passed away is a euphemism for died."
foreshadowing	hints about future events in a narrative	"The dark clouds foreshadowed the coming tragedy."
hubris	excessive pride leading to downfall	"The king's hubris ultimately destroyed his kingdom."
hyperbole	deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect	"I've told you a million times is hyperbole."
irony	expression of meaning through opposite words or outcomes	"A fire station burning down is a classic example of irony."
juxtaposition	placing two elements close together for contrasting effect	"The juxtaposition of wealth and poverty highlighted inequality."
leitmotif	a recurring theme or element throughout a work	"The green light serves as a leitmotif in The Great Gatsby."
litotes	understatement by denying the opposite	"Saying 'not bad' when you mean 'good' is litotes."
malapropism	mistaken use of a word for a similar-sounding one	"Saying 'for all intensive purposes' instead of 'intents and purposes' is a malapropism."
metaphor	a direct comparison between two unlike things	"Life is a journey is a common metaphor."
metonymy	substituting the name of an attribute for the thing itself	"The pen is mightier than the sword uses metonymy."
motif	a recurring element that has symbolic significance	"Water is a motif representing rebirth in the novel."
oxymoron	a combination of contradictory terms	"Deafening silence and living dead are oxymorons."
parody	an imitation for comic effect or ridicule	"The film was a parody of action movie clichés."
pathos	a quality that evokes pity or sadness	"The orphan's story was full of pathos."
personification	attributing human qualities to non-human things	"The wind whispered through the trees is personification."
prose	ordinary written language, as opposed to poetry	"The novel is written in elegant prose."
protagonist	the main character in a story	"Hamlet is the protagonist of Shakespeare's play."
satire	the use of humor or irony to criticize or expose	"The article was a satire of corporate culture."
simile	a comparison using 'like' or 'as'	"Her eyes sparkled like diamonds is a simile."
soliloquy	a speech revealing a character's thoughts to the audience	"Hamlet's 'To be or not to be' is a famous soliloquy."
synecdoche	using a part to represent the whole or vice versa	"All hands on deck uses synecdoche."
syntax	the arrangement of words and phrases in sentences	"Yoda's unusual syntax makes his speech distinctive."
trope	a common or overused theme or device	"The chosen one is a familiar fantasy trope."
verisimilitude	the appearance of being true or real	"The historical details added verisimilitude to the novel."
zeitgeist	the spirit or mood of a particular period	"The music captured the zeitgeist of the 1960s."
antagonist	a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something	"The antagonist plotted against the hero at every turn."
epigraph	a phrase, quotation, or poem at the beginning of a document or component	"The novel began with an epigraph from Dante."

🤥Logical Fallacies27

Term	Definition	Example
ad hominem	attacking the person making the argument rather than the argument itself	"Dismissing her point because she's young is an ad hominem fallacy."
appeal to authority	using an authority figure's opinion as evidence when they lack relevant expertise	"Citing a celebrity's medical advice is an appeal to authority."
appeal to emotion	using emotional manipulation instead of logical arguments	"The commercial used sad music as an appeal to emotion."
appeal to nature	arguing something is good because it's 'natural'	"Claiming organic foods are healthier is often an appeal to nature."
bandwagon fallacy	arguing something is true because many people believe it	"Everyone uses this product isn't a valid argument—that's the bandwagon fallacy."
begging the question	assuming the conclusion in the premise; circular reasoning	"The Bible is true because it says so is begging the question."
burden of proof	shifting the responsibility to disprove a claim rather than prove it	"Prove unicorns don't exist misplaces the burden of proof."
cherry picking	selecting only evidence that supports your position while ignoring contradictory data	"The study was accused of cherry picking favorable results."
circular reasoning	using the conclusion as a premise in the argument	"I'm right because I'm never wrong is circular reasoning."
correlation vs causation	assuming that because two things correlate, one causes the other	"Ice cream sales and drownings both rise in summer—correlation, not causation."
equivocation	using a word with multiple meanings to mislead	"The law is the law uses equivocation to avoid nuance."
false dichotomy	presenting only two options when more exist	"You're either with us or against us is a false dichotomy."
false equivalence	treating two different things as if they were the same	"Comparing petty theft to murder is a false equivalence."
gambler's fallacy	believing past random events affect future probabilities	"The coin landed heads five times, so tails is due is the gambler's fallacy."
genetic fallacy	judging something based on its origin rather than its current meaning	"Dismissing an idea because of who proposed it is a genetic fallacy."
hasty generalization	drawing broad conclusions from limited examples	"Meeting one rude person from a city and judging all residents is a hasty generalization."
loaded question	a question containing an unjustified assumption	"Have you stopped cheating? is a loaded question."
moving the goalposts	changing the criteria for proof after evidence is presented	"After she met his demands, he moved the goalposts."
no true Scotsman	dismissing counterexamples by redefining the group	"No real fan would dislike this movie is the no true Scotsman fallacy."
red herring	introducing an irrelevant topic to divert attention	"Bringing up his charity work during the fraud trial was a red herring."
slippery slope	arguing that one event will inevitably lead to extreme consequences	"If we allow this, soon anything goes is a slippery slope argument."
straw man	misrepresenting someone's argument to make it easier to attack	"He built a straw man version of her position, then demolished it."
sunk cost fallacy	continuing something because of previously invested resources	"Staying in a bad job because you've been there for years is the sunk cost fallacy."
tu quoque	deflecting criticism by pointing to the critic's similar behavior	"You smoke too is a tu quoque response to health advice."
whataboutism	responding to criticism by pointing to others' faults	"What about their mistakes? is classic whataboutism."
appeal to tradition	arguing that something is valid because it has always been done that way	"We've always done it this way is an appeal to tradition."
appeal to ignorance	arguing that a conclusion must be true because it has not been proven false	"No one has proven aliens don't exist, so they must exist is an appeal to ignorance."

🧩Logical Forms10

Term	Definition	Example
syllogism	a form of reasoning with two premises leading to a conclusion	"The classic syllogism: All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal."
enthymeme	an argument where one premise is implied rather than stated	"He's a politician, so he must be dishonest—an enthymeme assuming all politicians are dishonest."
dialectic	the art of investigating truth through discussion and reasoning	"Socratic dialectic involves questioning assumptions to reach deeper truths."
inference	a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning	"The detective drew an inference from the scattered clues."
deduction	reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions	"Through deduction, we can determine the culprit from these facts."
induction	reasoning from specific instances to general principles	"Scientific induction involves generalizing from observed data."
abduction	inference to the best explanation	"Abductive reasoning suggests the most likely cause of these symptoms."
postulate	a thing suggested as a basis for reasoning	"Let us postulate that human behavior is fundamentally rational."
axiom	a statement regarded as self-evidently true	"The axiom that all people are created equal underlies democracy."
theorem	a proposition proved by reasoning from accepted truths	"The Pythagorean theorem follows logically from geometric axioms."

🗣️Persuasion Techniques10

Term	Definition	Example
polemic	a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something	"His essay was a polemic against government overreach."
rhetoric	the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing	"Her rhetoric moved the audience to action."
eloquence	fluent or persuasive speaking or writing	"His eloquence won over even his harshest critics."
oratory	the art or practice of formal public speaking	"Churchill was known for his powerful oratory."
exhortation	a strongly encouraging or urging communication	"The coach's exhortation fired up the team."
invective	insulting or abusive language	"The debate devolved into mutual invective."
diatribe	a forceful and bitter verbal attack	"Her diatribe against the proposal lasted twenty minutes."
harangue	a lengthy, aggressive speech	"He subjected them to a harangue about their failures."
tirade	a long, angry speech of criticism	"The customer launched into a tirade about the poor service."
peroration	the concluding part of a speech; a lengthy oration	"The lawyer's peroration summarized all key points dramatically."

🧱Argument Elements12

Term	Definition	Example
premise	a proposition forming the basis of an argument	"Your conclusion is flawed because your premise is wrong."
thesis	a statement put forward as a premise to be proved	"Her thesis challenged conventional wisdom about evolution."
antithesis	a proposition contrasting with the original thesis	"His views represent the antithesis of traditional values."
synthesis	the combining of thesis and antithesis into a new proposition	"The synthesis reconciled seemingly contradictory positions."
cogent	clear, logical, and convincing	"She presented a cogent argument for reform."
compelling	evoking interest or attention in an irresistible way	"The evidence was compelling beyond doubt."
tenable	able to be maintained or defended against attack	"His position is no longer tenable given the new evidence."
irrefutable	impossible to deny or disprove	"The DNA evidence was irrefutable."
contentious	causing or likely to cause disagreement	"The contentious proposal divided the committee."
aphorism	a pithy observation containing a general truth	"The aphorism 'less is more' guides minimalist design."
maxim	a short statement expressing a general truth	"He lived by the maxim 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'"
dictum	a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source	"The judge's dictum became a guiding principle in later cases."

🎯Precision & Clarity15

Term	Definition	Example
specificity	the quality of being exact and clear in description or reference	"The request lacked specificity—what exactly do you need?"
precision	exactness and accuracy of expression or detail	"Mathematical precision is essential when defining requirements."
clarity	the quality of being coherent and intelligible	"Clarity in communication prevents misunderstandings."
exactitude	the quality of being exact; precision	"The engineer worked with exactitude, leaving no room for error."
explicitness	the quality of stating something clearly with no room for confusion	"The contract's explicitness left no ambiguity about responsibilities."
lucidity	clarity of expression; easy to understand	"Her lucidity in explaining complex topics made her an excellent teacher."
unambiguous	not open to more than one interpretation	"Please provide unambiguous instructions so there's no confusion."
unequivocal	leaving no doubt; clear and definite	"His answer was unequivocal: the project would proceed."
perspicuous	clearly expressed and easily understood; lucid	"A perspicuous explanation helps readers grasp difficult concepts."
pellucid	easily understood; clear in meaning or style	"Her pellucid writing style made even technical content accessible."
articulate	having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently	"Articulate your requirements before starting the project."
cogent	clear, logical, and convincing	"She made a cogent argument for the proposed changes."
incisive	intelligently analytical and clear-thinking	"His incisive questions cut through the confusion."
trenchant	vigorous or incisive in expression or style	"The trenchant critique identified the core issues."
crystallize	to make or become definite and clear	"Let's crystallize our objectives before moving forward."

🔭Scope & Boundaries18

Term	Definition	Example
scope	the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with	"What is the scope of this analysis?"
constraint	a limitation or restriction on what can be done	"Time and budget are our main constraints."
parameter	a limit or boundary that defines the scope of something	"Work within these parameters to ensure consistency."
boundary	a line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line	"We need clear boundaries between what's included and excluded."
limitation	a restriction or constraint; a shortcoming	"Acknowledge the limitations of this approach."
extent	the area covered or the degree to which something applies	"To what extent does this apply to our situation?"
purview	the scope of the influence or concerns of something	"That decision falls outside my purview."
ambit	the scope, extent, or bounds of something	"The investigation's ambit expanded beyond initial expectations."
circumscribe	to restrict or limit within boundaries	"The project scope was carefully circumscribed to prevent overreach."
delimit	to determine the limits or boundaries of	"Delimit the problem space before proposing solutions."
demarcate	to set the boundaries or limits of	"Demarcate responsibilities clearly among team members."
confine	to keep or restrict within certain limits	"Confine your response to the specific question asked."
threshold	the point at which something begins or changes	"What's the threshold for escalating this issue?"
finite	having limits or bounds; not infinite	"We have finite resources, so prioritization is key."
bounded	limited or restricted in extent or scope	"The search should be bounded by date range."
domain	a specified sphere of activity or knowledge	"This falls within the domain of compliance."
jurisdiction	the official power to make decisions; sphere of authority	"That's not within my jurisdiction to decide."
remit	the task or area of activity officially assigned	"Expanding services is outside our current remit."

🏗️Structure & Organization18

Term	Definition	Example
enumerate	to mention or list items one by one	"Enumerate the steps required to complete this task."
delineate	to describe or portray something precisely; outline	"Delineate the process from start to finish."
categorize	to place into groups based on shared characteristics	"Categorize the issues by priority level."
prioritize	to arrange items in order of importance	"Prioritize the features for the first release."
sequence	to arrange in a particular order	"Sequence the tasks in their order of execution."
hierarchy	a system in which items are ranked according to levels	"Establish a hierarchy of decision-making authority."
taxonomy	a scheme of classification; a systematic arrangement	"The taxonomy helps organize concepts by relationship."
framework	a basic structure underlying a system or concept	"Use this framework to structure your analysis."
schema	a structured framework or plan; an outline	"The database schema defines how data is organized."
paradigm	a typical example or pattern of something; a model	"This shifts the paradigm for how we approach the problem."
methodology	a system of methods used in a particular field	"What methodology will you use for this research?"
systematic	done or acting according to a fixed plan or system	"Take a systematic approach to debugging."
stratify	to arrange or classify into different levels or layers	"Stratify the data by demographic groups."
partition	to divide into parts or portions	"Partition the problem into manageable components."
segment	to divide into separate parts or sections	"Segment the audience based on behavior patterns."
modular	designed with standardized units for flexibility	"A modular approach allows components to be reused."
granular	characterized by fine detail; broken into small parts	"Provide a more granular breakdown of the costs."
holistic	characterized by consideration of the whole rather than parts	"Take a holistic view of the system before optimizing."

💡Clarification & Understanding16

Term	Definition	Example
disambiguate	to remove uncertainty of meaning from; make clear	"Disambiguate between the two possible interpretations."
elucidate	to make something clear; explain	"Can you elucidate your reasoning?"
clarify	to make a statement or situation less confused	"Please clarify what you mean by 'soon'."
explicate	to analyze and develop an idea in detail	"Explicate the theory with concrete examples."
illuminate	to help explain or make something clear	"This example illuminates the underlying concept."
demystify	to make something easier to understand	"Let me demystify how the algorithm works."
expound	to present and explain a theory or idea in detail	"She expounded on the benefits of the new approach."
elaborate	to develop or present in detail	"Could you elaborate on that point?"
construe	to interpret or understand in a particular way	"How should we construe this clause?"
parse	to analyze something in detail; break down into parts	"Let's parse the sentence to understand its meaning."
unpack	to analyze something by examining its components	"Unpack the assumptions behind this conclusion."
deconstruct	to analyze by breaking down into components	"Deconstruct the argument to find its weaknesses."
distill	to extract the essential meaning or most important aspects	"Distill the report into key takeaways."
paraphrase	to express the meaning using different words	"Let me paraphrase to confirm I understand."
recapitulate	to summarize and state again the main points	"Let me recapitulate what we've agreed on."
synthesize	to combine elements into a coherent whole	"Synthesize the findings into actionable recommendations."

🔎Examples & Evidence16

Term	Definition	Example
exemplify	to serve as an example of; illustrate	"This case exemplifies the problem we're facing."
illustrate	to explain or make something clear by using examples	"Illustrate your point with a specific example."
substantiate	to provide evidence to support or prove the truth of	"Can you substantiate these claims with data?"
corroborate	to confirm or give support to a statement or finding	"Multiple sources corroborate this finding."
demonstrate	to clearly show the existence or truth of something	"The results demonstrate a clear pattern."
validate	to check or prove the validity or accuracy of	"We need to validate these assumptions."
verify	to make sure or demonstrate that something is true	"Verify the information before publishing."
authenticate	to prove or show something to be true or genuine	"Can you authenticate the source of this data?"
cite	to quote or refer to as evidence or justification	"Cite your sources when making factual claims."
reference	to mention or refer to something as support	"Reference the documentation for more details."
instantiate	to represent as or provide a concrete example of	"Instantiate the abstract concept with a real-world case."
manifest	to display or show clearly; evidence	"The issues manifest in several ways."
evince	to reveal the presence of; indicate	"The data evinces a strong correlation."
attest	to provide or serve as clear evidence of	"The results attest to the method's effectiveness."
empirical	based on observation or experience rather than theory	"We need empirical evidence, not speculation."
anecdotal	based on personal accounts rather than systematic study	"This is anecdotal—do we have quantitative data?"

📋Conditions & Requirements16

Term	Definition	Example
stipulate	to specify as a condition or requirement	"The contract stipulates a 30-day notice period."
prerequisite	something required as a prior condition	"Understanding algebra is a prerequisite for calculus."
contingent	dependent on something else; conditional	"Approval is contingent on passing the security review."
conditional	subject to one or more conditions being met	"This is a conditional offer pending background checks."
proviso	a condition attached to an agreement	"I'll agree, with the proviso that we review progress monthly."
caveat	a warning or qualification; a condition	"One caveat: this only works with clean data."
qualification	a condition that must be met; a modification	"There are some qualifications to that statement."
criterion	a principle or standard by which something is judged	"What criteria will you use to evaluate success?"
requisite	something that is necessary or required	"Experience in Python is a requisite for this role."
imperative	absolutely necessary or required; vital	"It is imperative that we meet this deadline."
mandatory	required by law or rules; compulsory	"Security training is mandatory for all employees."
discretionary	available for use at one's own judgment	"This funding is discretionary, not guaranteed."
optional	available to be chosen but not required	"The extra features are optional."
ancillary	providing necessary support; supplementary	"Ancillary documentation may be helpful but isn't required."
predicate	to base something on; require as a precondition	"The plan is predicated on securing additional funding."
entail	to involve something as a necessary consequence	"What does this decision entail?"

🌗Comparison & Contrast16

Term	Definition	Example
juxtapose	to place side by side for comparison or contrast	"Juxtapose the two approaches to see their differences."
differentiate	to recognize or identify what makes things different	"Differentiate between correlation and causation."
distinguish	to recognize or treat as different	"Distinguish between facts and opinions."
contrast	to compare in a way that shows differences	"Contrast the old system with the new one."
analogous	comparable in certain respects; similar	"This situation is analogous to what happened before."
parallel	similar or corresponding; equivalent	"Draw a parallel between the two scenarios."
equivalent	equal in value, function, or meaning	"Is there an equivalent term in that context?"
commensurate	corresponding in size or degree; proportionate	"The reward should be commensurate with the effort."
disparate	essentially different; distinct in kind	"Reconciling these disparate views will be challenging."
dichotomy	a division into two contrasting things or parts	"The dichotomy between theory and practice is clear."
nuance	a subtle difference in meaning or expression	"There's an important nuance you're missing."
discrepancy	a lack of compatibility or similarity between things	"Explain the discrepancy between these reports."
divergent	differing from a standard or from each other	"We have divergent opinions on this issue."
convergent	coming together from different directions	"Our analyses reached convergent conclusions."
tantamount	equivalent in value, significance, or effect	"Silence is tantamount to agreement."
congruent	in agreement or harmony	"Ensure your actions are congruent with your values."

🔬Analysis & Breakdown16

Term	Definition	Example
decompose	to break down into constituent parts	"Decompose the problem into smaller subproblems."
dissect	to analyze in minute detail	"Dissect the argument to understand its structure."
analyze	to examine methodically by separating into parts	"Analyze the data to identify patterns."
scrutinize	to examine closely and thoroughly	"Scrutinize the proposal for potential issues."
evaluate	to form an idea of the value or quality of	"Evaluate each option against our criteria."
assess	to evaluate or estimate the nature or quality of	"Assess the risk before proceeding."
diagnose	to identify the nature of a problem by examination	"Diagnose the root cause of the failure."
investigate	to carry out a systematic inquiry or examination	"Investigate why the system behaved unexpectedly."
probe	to explore or examine something closely	"Probe deeper into the underlying assumptions."
interrogate	to examine closely; question systematically	"Interrogate the data to find hidden insights."
ascertain	to find out for certain; determine	"Ascertain the facts before drawing conclusions."
deduce	to arrive at a conclusion by reasoning	"From these clues, we can deduce the cause."
infer	to conclude from evidence and reasoning	"What can we infer from this behavior?"
extrapolate	to extend trends or data beyond the known range	"Can we extrapolate these results to the general population?"
interpolate	to estimate values between known data points	"Interpolate the missing values based on the pattern."
correlate	to establish a relationship or connection between	"Correlate user behavior with conversion rates."

👓Perspective & Framing16

Term	Definition	Example
contextualize	to place within a particular context or background	"Contextualize the data within market conditions."
frame	to formulate or construct in a particular way	"How you frame the question affects the answer."
perspective	a particular attitude or way of viewing something	"Consider this from the customer's perspective."
vantage	a position giving a strategic advantage or view	"From my vantage point, the risks seem manageable."
lens	a particular way of looking at or analyzing something	"View this through an economic lens."
standpoint	an attitude or position taken in evaluating things	"From a technical standpoint, this is feasible."
orientation	a person's basic attitude or inclination	"What's your orientation toward risk?"
prism	a way of regarding something that colors perception	"He views everything through the prism of profit."
reframe	to frame or express differently; reconsider	"Reframe the problem as an opportunity."
objectivity	judgment based on facts rather than personal feelings	"Maintain objectivity when evaluating the proposals."
subjectivity	judgment based on personal feelings or opinions	"Acknowledge the subjectivity inherent in these ratings."
bias	prejudice or inclination that distorts judgment	"Check for bias in your sampling method."
impartiality	equal treatment of all; lack of favoritism	"The review process requires impartiality."
stakeholder	a person with an interest or concern in something	"Consider all stakeholder perspectives."
premise	a proposition from which a conclusion is drawn	"Your argument rests on a flawed premise."
assumption	something accepted as true without proof	"What assumptions are we making here?"

⚙️Action & Output16

Term	Definition	Example
formulate	to create or devise methodically	"Formulate a strategy for addressing this issue."
propose	to put forward for consideration	"Propose three alternative solutions."
recommend	to suggest as worthy of acceptance	"Based on this analysis, I recommend option B."
advocate	to publicly support or recommend	"I advocate for a more cautious approach."
prescribe	to lay down as a rule or guide; recommend	"The guidelines prescribe specific formats."
devise	to plan or invent by careful thought	"Devise a method to test this hypothesis."
generate	to produce or create	"Generate a list of potential solutions."
derive	to obtain or arrive at by reasoning	"Derive the formula from first principles."
render	to provide or deliver; represent in a particular form	"Render the output in JSON format."
output	the information produced by a process	"What output format do you need?"
deliverable	a thing able to be provided; a tangible result	"What are the key deliverables for this project?"
actionable	able to be acted upon; practical	"Provide actionable recommendations, not just analysis."
executable	capable of being carried out or performed	"Is this plan executable within our constraints?"
implementable	able to be put into effect or action	"Focus on implementable solutions."
iterate	to perform repeatedly; refine through repetition	"Iterate on the design based on feedback."
refine	to improve by making small changes	"Refine the query to get more relevant results."

❓Questioning Techniques16

Term	Definition	Example
open-ended	allowing a free response rather than a yes/no	"Ask open-ended questions to get richer responses."
closed-ended	requiring a specific, limited answer	"Use closed-ended questions for quantitative data."
leading	tending to suggest the desired answer	"Avoid leading questions that bias responses."
probing	seeking to explore or examine deeply	"Follow up with probing questions to understand motives."
rhetorical	asked for effect, not requiring an answer	"That was a rhetorical question—the answer is obvious."
hypothetical	involving or based on a supposed scenario	"Consider this hypothetical: what if we had unlimited budget?"
Socratic	using questions to stimulate critical thinking	"The Socratic method helps learners discover answers themselves."
diagnostic	designed to identify or determine something	"Ask diagnostic questions to pinpoint the issue."
clarifying	intended to make something clearer	"Let me ask a clarifying question before proceeding."
follow-up	continuing a line of inquiry from previous questions	"I have a follow-up question about that response."
counterfactual	relating to what has not happened but might have	"A counterfactual question: what if we hadn't made that change?"
meta	referring to itself or to the conventions of its type	"A meta question: is this even the right question to ask?"
loaded	containing an assumption that may not be true	"That's a loaded question—I reject the premise."
compound	combining multiple questions into one	"Avoid compound questions; ask them separately."
pertinent	relevant or applicable to the matter at hand	"Focus on pertinent questions to save time."
tangential	only slightly relevant; diverging from the main point	"Let's set aside tangential questions for now."

💡Reasoning & Logic16

Term	Definition	Example
premise	a previous statement from which another is inferred	"The conclusion follows logically from the premise."
inference	a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence	"What inference can we draw from this data?"
deduction	the process of reasoning from general to specific	"Through deduction, we can rule out possibilities."
induction	the process of reasoning from specific to general	"Induction from these cases suggests a pattern."
abduction	inference to the best explanation	"Abductive reasoning points to the most likely cause."
syllogism	a form of reasoning with two premises and a conclusion	"The syllogism: all A are B, all B are C, therefore all A are C."
corollary	a proposition that follows from one already proven	"The corollary of this finding is significant."
axiom	a statement regarded as self-evidently true	"We'll take this as an axiom for our discussion."
postulate	a thing suggested or assumed as true as a basis	"Let's postulate that demand will remain stable."
fallacy	a mistaken belief based on unsound reasoning	"That's a logical fallacy—correlation isn't causation."
non sequitur	a conclusion that doesn't logically follow	"Your conclusion is a non sequitur from the evidence."
tautology	a statement that is true by necessity; circular reasoning	"Saying 'it is what it is' is a tautology."
heuristic	a practical method for problem-solving	"Use this heuristic to quickly estimate the answer."
algorithm	a process or set of rules for calculations	"The algorithm follows a specific logical sequence."
rationale	a set of reasons justifying a course of action	"Explain the rationale behind your decision."
causation	the relationship between cause and effect	"Establish causation, not just correlation."

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