cogent
UK[ˈkəʊdʒənt]US[ˈkoʊdʒənt]
adj
(of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing.
Etymology
The word 'cogent' entered English in the late 16th century, directly from the Latin present participle 'cogent-', meaning 'compelling'. Its ultimate source is the Latin verb 'cogere', a compound of 'co-' (a prefix signifying 'together') and 'agere' (a versatile verb meaning 'to drive, to do, to act'). The literal sense of 'cogere' was 'to drive together' or 'to force into one place'. Over time, this concrete meaning evolved into the more abstract sense of 'to compel by force of argument' or 'to constrain logically'. Thus, in English, 'cogent' retains this evolved sense, describing reasoning that is so logically forceful and well-structured that it compels belief or agreement.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form borrowed whole from Latin. It is derived from the Latin verb 'cogere', meaning 'to compel' or 'to drive together', composed of 'co-' (together) and 'agere' (to drive). The English form 'cogent' represents the present participle stem of this verb.
Examples
The lawyer presented a cogent argument that left the jury with little doubt.
Her report was praised for its cogent analysis of the complex economic data.
For a theory to be accepted, it must be supported by cogent evidence.