| A Priori 1. (a.) Characterizing that kind of reasoning which deduces consequences from definitions formed, or principles assumed, or which infers effects from causes previously known; deductive or deductively. The reverse of a posteriori. 2. (a.) Applied to knowledge and conceptions assumed, or presupposed, as prior to experience, in order to make experience rational or possible. Thesaurus Entries a fortiori, a posteriori, analytic, back, backward, categorical, conditional, deducible, deductive, derivable, dialectic, discursive, dogmatic, early, enthymematic, epagogic, ex post facto, hypothetical, inductive, inferential, into the past, maieutic, reasoned, retroactive, retrospective, soritical, syllogistic, synthetic |