figure (of a syllogism)
The position of the middle term in a syllogism's two premises, numbered 1 to 4.
The figure of a standard-form categorical syllogism records where the middle term sits: figure 1, subject of the major premise and predicate of the minor; figure 2, predicate of both; figure 3, subject of both; figure 4, predicate of the major and subject of the minor. Mood and figure together fix a syllogism's form.
Examples
The poets syllogism (AII) is in figure 1, so its form is AII-1.
See also