non sequuntur

English

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin non sequuntur (“they do not follow”), third-person plural form of non sequor (“I do not follow”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /nɒn sɛˈkwʊntʊə/

Noun

non sequuntur

1. plural of non sequitur
   • 1947 January, L. J. D. Richardson, “A Little Classics Is a Dangerous Thing”, in Greece & Rome, volume 16, number 46, Cambridge University Press:

     We cannot be told that our arguments are vitiated by a fallacy, that our quod erat demonstranda involve too many non sequuntur : we cannot even be told that our campaign represents a policy of perfections, of unattainable ne plus ultrae.

   • 1998 July 23, Bob Newman, “Handy snot-plural quick reference guide”, in alt.usage.english‎^[1] (Usenet):

     Thaank^[sic] you, Mr Fnordling-5, for your most uplifting contribution; in return, I offer you telices (so much classier than telexes) and non sequuntur.

   • 1998 September 19, Matthew Montchalin, “(Big Trees) Re: Vehicle weight (was: Teen drivers)”, in or.politics‎^[2] (Usenet):

     Not all non sequiturs (ahem, non sequuntur) are vacuous per se.

   • 2001 August 29, Padraic Brown, “thee and thou [WAS: basically]”, in sci.lang (Usenet):

     What does being familiar with you have to do with it?
     Fond of non sequuntur?

Related terms

• sequuntur