ignotum per ignotius

phrase

An attempt to explain something obscure in terms of something else which is even more obscure.

Similar
obscurum per obscurius
OriginLatin ignōtum per ignōtius →
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Meanings

phrase
  1. An attempt to explain something obscure in terms of something else which is even more obscure.
  2. human sciencesA type of fallacious argument in which one attempts to prove something unknown by relying upon an assumption that is also unknown.

    Synonyms: obscurum per obscurius

Synonyms & antonyms

phraseA type of fallacious argument in which one attempts to prove something unknown by relying upon an assumption that is also unknown.

Similar
obscurum per obscurius
Also see
obscurum per obscurius

Origin

  1. Latinignōtum per ignōtius
  2. Englishignotum per ignotius

From Latin ignōtum per ignōtius, “[to explain] the unknown by the more unknown”.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ignotum per ignotius. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ignotum%20per%20ignotius

MLA

“ignotum per ignotius.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ignotum%20per%20ignotius. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ignotum per ignotius,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ignotum%20per%20ignotius.

Source: ignotum per ignotius on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.