elench

1. (logic) That part of an argument on which its conclusiveness depends; that which convinces or refutes an antagonist; a refutation.Examples: "Reprehension or Elench […] is a Syllogisme, which gathereth a conclusion contrary to the assertion of the respondent, as if a man would defend Medea not to love her childe, because she killed it, another might reason against him in this manner: every Mother loveth her child: but Medea is a Mother: Ergo, Medea loveth her child: the Conclusion of this Syllogisme is contrarie to the first Assertion […]"

2. (obsolete) A specious argument; a sophism.Examples: "But of these Sophisms and Elenchs of marchandize I skill not […]"; "This fallacy in the first delusion Satan put upon Eve, and his whole tentation might be the same Elench continued; so when he said, Ye shall not die, that was in his equivocation, ye shall not incurre a present death, or a destruction immediatly ensuing your transgression."obsolete