n. Depopulation; destruction of population. [ R. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being disconsolate. [ Obs. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Fallacies [ OE. fallace, fallas, deception, F. fallace, fr. L. fallacia, fr. fallax deceitful, deceptive, fr. fallere to deceive. See Fail. ] 1. Deceptive or false appearance; deceitfulness; that which misleads the eye or the mind; deception. [ 1913 Webster ]

Winning by conquest what the first man lost,
By fallacy surprised. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Logic) An argument, or apparent argument, which professes to be decisive of the matter at issue, while in reality it is not; a sophism.

Syn. -- Deception; deceit; mistake. -- Fallacy, Sophistry. A fallacy is an argument which professes to be decisive, but in reality is not; sophistry is also false reasoning, but of so specious and subtle a kind as to render it difficult to expose its fallacy. Many fallacies are obvious, but the evil of sophistry lies in its consummate art. “Men are apt to suffer their minds to be misled by fallacies which gratify their passions. Many persons have obscured and confounded the nature of things by their wretched sophistry; though an act be never so sinful, they will strip it of its guilt.” South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being inviolate; as, the inviolacy of an oath.

n. Populace. [ Obs. ] Feltham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Prelacies [ LL. praelatia. See Prelate; cf. Prelaty. ] 1. The office or dignity of a prelate; church government by prelates. [ 1913 Webster ]

Prelacies may be termed the greater benefices. Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The order of prelates, taken collectively; the body of ecclesiastical dignitaries. “Divers of the reverend prelacy, and other most judicious men.” Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]