APORE

APORE, Ἀπορία, or Aporime, a Problem difficult to resolve, and which has never been resolved, though it be not, in itself, impossible. See PROBLEM. Such we conceive the Quadrature of the Circle; the Duplication of the Cube; the Trisection of an Angle, etc. See QUADRATURE, DUPLICATION, TRISECTION, etc. The Word is derived from the Greek ἀπορία, which signifies something very difficult and impracticable; being formed from the Privative α, and πόρος, Passage.



Hence also the Word Pore, which is understood of those imperceptible Passages in Bodies, which make room for the Transpiration of Humours. See PORE. When a Question was proposed to any of the Greek Philosophers, especially of the Sect of Academics; if he could not give a Solution, his Answer was ἀπορῶ, q.d., I do not conceive it, I cannot see through it, I am not able to clear it up.

APORE