enthymeme Quintessensual An enthymeme is an informally-stated syllogism which omits either one of the premises or the conclusion. Whenever a premise is omitted in an enthymeme (and understood by the reader), it is assumed to be either a truism or an acceptable and non-controversial generalization. But sometimes the omitted premise is neither a truism nor one with which the reader would agree, and the enthymeme then becomes a logical fallacy. Aside from its everyday use as a logical shorthand, enthymeme finds its greatest use in writing as an instrument for slightly understating yet clearly pointing out some assertion, often in the form of omitted conclusion. By making the reader work out the syllogism for her/himself, you impress the conclusion upon him/her, yet in a way gentler than if you spelled it out in so many words. 991211 ... SOME FUCKED UP GIRL crystal enthymeme users are referred to as "speed freaks", as recorded by the United States government's Street Terms for Drugs 991212 what's it to you? who go blather from