Specious Meaning Argument Surface Latin Adjective)  Ring Truth

Specious is an adjective that describes the type of argument a sophist might deliver: one that seems plausible on the surface but is fallacious underneath.

Specious comes from the Latin speciosus, meaning “good looking,” which came from species, meaning “appearance.” Thus, a specious argument is one that “looks good” on the surface but isn’t sound. Specious is also related to the Latin root spec, meaning “look.”