Definitions Related words Mentions History

Literary notes about adduce (AI summary)

The word "adduce" has long served as a tool for authors to introduce evidence or examples to support an argument or claim, a usage that spans diverse genres and eras. In classical texts such as those by Augustine and Strabo, the term is employed to invoke established testimonies or authoritative opinions in favor of a proposition [1, 2, 3, 4]. This practice is equally prominent in literary modernism, as seen in Joyce’s Ulysses, where characters adduce examples not only to validate their ideas but also to challenge the adequacy of such proof [5, 6, 7, 8]. Philosophers like Plato and Nietzsche further utilize the term in dialogues and treatises as a means to underscore the necessity of substantiating one’s assertions with rigorous evidence [9, 10, 11]. Across these varied contexts—from historical reasoning to literary exploration—the term "adduce" consistently functions as a bridge between assertion and evidence, highlighting its enduring role in the art of persuasion [12, 13, 14].
  1. To adduce and discuss their various opinions would be tedious, and is unnecessary.
    — from The City of God, Volume I by Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine
  2. And here we must previously adduce the opinions of Eratosthenes.
    — from The Geography of Strabo, Volume 3 (of 3) by Strabo
  3. For, omitting for brevity's sake other proofs which I might adduce in support of this opinion, I will state but one which I consider conclusive.
    — from The City of God, Volume I by Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine
  4. [CAS. 717] we may adduce their (different) accounts of Calanus.
    — from The Geography of Strabo, Volume 3 (of 3) by Strabo
  5. What proofs did Bloom adduce to prove that his tendency was towards applied, rather than towards pure, science?
    — from Ulysses by James Joyce
  6. Which example did he adduce to induce Stephen to deduce that originality, though producing its own reward, does not invariably conduce to success?
    — from Ulysses by James Joyce
  7. His marital breast is the repository of secrets which decorum is reluctant to adduce.
    — from Ulysses by James Joyce
  8. Accepting the analogy implied in his guest’s parable which examples of postexilic eminence did he adduce?
    — from Ulysses by James Joyce
  9. CALLICLES: I agree, and therefore you need not adduce any more instances. SOCRATES: Very good.
    — from Gorgias by Plato
  10. —You feel a dislike for him, and adduce innumerable reasons for this dislike, but I only believe in your dislike and not in your reasons!
    — from The Dawn of Day by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
  11. Need I adduce any more instances, or would you agree that all wants or desires are painful?
    — from Gorgias by Plato
  12. But through the influence of their teacher, necessity, the ego instincts soon learn to adduce some qualification to the principle of pleasure.
    — from A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud
  13. I wish on this subject to adduce a modern example.
    — from The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli
  14. I do not adduce it as a fair criterion of comparative excellence, nor do I even think it such; but merely as matter of fact.
    — from Biographia Literaria by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, Scrabble


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Compound Your Joy