question-begging

English

Etymology

From begging the question. First attested in the nineteenth century.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈkwɛst͡ʃənˌbɛɡɪŋ/

Adjective

question-begging (not comparable)

  1. (chiefly attributive) begging the question; logically circular.
    They got sick of his question-begging punditry.
    • 1886 [1882], Henry James, The Point of View‎, London: Macmillan and Co.:
      Vulgarity is a stupid, superficial, question-begging accusation, which has become today the easiest refuge of mediocrity.
    • 1962 August, “British Railways in 1961—a working loss of £87 million”, in Modern Railways, page 91:
      On traction, the Report adds little to existing knowledge, save a question-begging observation that "enough experience has been gained on electric and hydraulic transmission systems to enable conclusions to be drawn on the relative merits of each."

Noun

question-begging (uncountable)

  1. The act of begging the question.
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