Dictionary

misproof en · NOUN

Etymology

From mis- + proof.

Meanings

1. (countable) A mathematical proof that contains logical errors.
   • This is what applied mathematics should be about; not the fallacious misproofs of Stoke's theorem or the relentless linearisation of the nonlinear that put me off applied mathematics for 15 years. 1983 May 12, David Cohen, “Developing psychological thought”, in New Scientist, volume 98, number 1357, page 391:
   • The three basic theorems of three-manifold topology -- Dehn's Lemma, the Loop Theorem, and the Sphere Theorem -- were proved in 1957 by Papakyriakopoulos. (Dehn stated his result in 1910, but gave a misproof.) 2012, D. S. Freed, K. K. Uhlenbeck, Instantons and Four-Manifolds, page 15:
   • Only a misproof of Nöebling [66] (for any m) ensued in the 1930's. 1977, Robion C. Kirby, Laurence C. Siebenmann, Foundational Essays on Topological Manifolds, Smoothings, and Triangulations., volume 88, page 308:
2. (countable, uncountable) Evidence or convincing argument that misleads one to the wrong conclusion.
   • With one misproof piled on top of another, we end up under an avalanche of falsehoods, distortions, and non-evidence. 2013, Tony Burke, Ancient Gospel or Modern Forgery?:
   • The 38-year-old Malone currently resides in Triangle, NC and referred to herself during the interview as Kellie's "mystery mom" and said she decided to talk because "a lot of misproof has been printed" about her. 2007 September 11, Christopher Rocchio, “Kellie Pickler's estranged mom: Leaving was the hardest decision”, in Reality TV World:
   • Misproof occurs when some other than the proposition stated is proved. This may occur from confusion, or may be intentional, as in attacking the character of an opponent (argumentum ad hominem); appealing to the prejudice (ad populum); or to authority without evidence of validity (ad verecundiam). 1914, William Dinwiddie, Essentials of Logic, page 125:
   • However, the probability of such a misproof goes to zero exponentially with the number of questions asked and hence the probability of giving an interactive “proof” for a false statement can be easily made arbitrarily small. 1995, Yuri Matiyasevich, “On Some Works of Avi Wigderson”, in S.D. Chatterji, editor, Proceedings of the International Congress of Mathematicians, page 26:
3. (obsolete, uncountable) Evidence that contradicts or casts doubt on.
   • That he could claim close kinship with a maiden so sweet and fair as Phyllis Maybird seemed almost incredible, but her own words placed the matter beyond misproof or doubt. 1897, Richard Gilbert Soans, John Gilbert, Yeoman: A Romance of the Commonwealth, page 25:
   • They may believe what they will — it is a story strong enough against misproof. 1924, John Drinkwater, Mary Staurt: A Play, page 76:
   • Misproof of the declared condition of mind falsifies the statement. 1914, Esten Kenneth Williams, Digest of Canadian Case Law, page 359:

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