prophases

Meaning

Noun

• The actual reasons for going to war. These may differ from proschemata, the pretexts offered to the public.
• Plural of prophase

Origin

• Ancient Greek πρόφασις, first popularized by Thucydides, who attempted to discern Athens' alethestate prophasis, or "truest reason" for waging war on Sparta in the Peloponnesian War.