prophases

English

Etymology 1

Ancient Greek πρόφασις (próphasis, “pretense, pretext, excuse”), first popularized by Thucydides, who attempted to discern Athens' alethestate prophasis, or "truest reason" for waging war on Sparta in the Peloponnesian War.

Noun

prophases (plural prophases or prophaseis)

1. The actual reasons for going to war. These may differ from proschemata, the pretexts offered to the public.

Etymology 2

Noun

prophases

1. plural of prophase