† sŏphistes or sŏphista, ae, m., = σοφιστής, a sophist: quis hic est? num sophistes? sic enim appellabantur hi, qui ostentationis aut quaestus causā philosophabantur, Cic. Ac. 2, 23, 72; cf. id. Fin. 2, 1, 1; id. Or. 11, 37: Protagoras, sophistes maximus, id. N. D. 1, 23, 63.
Form sophista, Gell. 17, 5, 3; voc.: insulse sophista, Lucil. ap. Don. Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 10.