It is only among formal logicians of the straitest sect that the narrowest sense prevails. Hamilton divides Enthymemes into three classes according as it is the Major Premiss, the Minor Premiss, or the Conclusion that is suppressed. Thus, a full syllogism being:—
All liars are cowards:
Caius is a liar:
... Caius is a coward:—
this may be enthymematically expressed in three ways.
I. Enthymeme of the First Order (Major understood).
Caius is a coward; for Caius is a liar.
II. Enthymeme of the Second Order (Minor understood).
Caius is a coward; for all liars are cowards.