Soph"ist, n. [F. sophiste, L. sophistes, fr. Gr. &?;. See Sophism.] 1.
One of a class of men who taught eloquence, philosophy, and politics in
ancient Greece; especially, one of those who, by their fallacious but
plausible reasoning, puzzled inquirers after truth, weakened the faith
of the people, and drew upon themselves general hatred and contempt.
Many of the Sophists doubdtless card not for truth or morality, and
merely professed to teach how to make the worse appear the better
reason; but there scems no reason to hold that they were a special
class, teaching special opinions; even Socrates and Plato were
sometimes styled Sophists.
Liddell & Scott.