3 ms·

You say "The original meaning of ad hominem was not attaching the author but rather appealing to the readers emotions rather than logic." I don't think you're

You say "The original meaning of ad hominem was not attaching the author but rather appealing to the readers emotions rather than logic." I don't think you're right here; "Ad hominem" in Latin means "to the man", implying attacking the original author.

kerrynitz 19y ago
appealing "to the man", perhaps?
- mejohnsn 19y ago
  Interesting guess, but no. The preposition 'ad' in "ad hominem" carries an _adversarial_ connotation. In this sense, it is like "adversus".