premise

[prem-is] /ˈprɛm ɪs/
noun
1.
Also, premiss. Logic. a proposition supporting or helping to support a conclusion.
2.
premises.
  1. a tract of land including its buildings.
  2. a building together with its grounds or other appurtenances.
  3. the property forming the subject of a conveyance or bequest.
3.
Law.
  1. a basis, stated or assumed, on which reasoning proceeds.
  2. an earlier statement in a document.
  3. (in a bill in equity) the statement of facts upon which the complaint is based.
verb (used with object), premised, premising.
4.
to set forth beforehand, as by way of introduction or explanation.
5.
to assume, either explicitly or implicitly, (a proposition) as a premise for a conclusion.
verb (used without object), premised, premising.
6.
to state or assume a premise.
Origin
1325-75; Middle English premiss < Medieval Latin praemissa, noun use of feminine of Latin praemissus past participle of praemittere to send before, equivalent to prae- pre- + mittere to send. See dismiss, remiss
Related forms
repremise, verb, repremised, repremising.
Can be confused
assumption, axiom, premise, presumption.
premise, premises.
Synonyms
1. assumption, postulate. 5. postulate, hypothesize.
Examples from the web for premise
  • Unfortunately the premise of this argument is wrong.
  • Fair enough as an argument, but the premise is wrong.
  • The major premise of the article and its location were not sited on the maps.
  • The author quickly abandons this premise, however, and turns his tale into an international chase caper.
  • We must premise that on the celestial globe Orion is represented as robed in a lion's skin and wielding a club.
  • Its premise is built on miserably unhappy coincidence.
  • The premise started out innocently enough.
  • Despite their morbid titles, the books offer an intriguing premise: You have to have goals in life.
  • Though the premise and plot may be flighty, snappy writing and a likable heroine keep the novel unexpectedly grounded.
  • It ranks right up there with the premise that the earth is flat.
British Dictionary definitions for premise

premise

noun (ˈprɛmɪs)
1.
(logic) Also premiss. a statement that is assumed to be true for the purpose of an argument from which a conclusion is drawn
verb (prɪˈmaɪz; ˈprɛmɪs)
2.
(when transitive, may take a clause as object) to state or assume (a proposition) as a premise in an argument, theory, etc
Word Origin
C14: from Old French prémisse, from Medieval Latin praemissa sent on before, from Latin praemittere to dispatch in advance, from prae before + mittere to send
Word Origin and History for premise
n.

late 14c., in logic, "a previous proposition from which another follows," from Old French premisse (14c.), from Medieval Latin premissa (propositio or sententia) "(the proposition) set before," noun use of fem. past participle of Latin praemittere "send forward, put before," from prae "before" (see pre-) + mittere "to send" (see mission). In legal documents it meant "matter previously stated" (early 15c.), which in deeds or wills often was a house or building, hence the extended meaning "house or building, with grounds" (1730).

v.

"to state before something else," mid-15c., from premise (n.). Related: Premised; premising.