a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, esp. one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections: He vigorously defended his thesis on the causes of war.
2.
a subject for a composition or essay.
3.
a dissertation on a particular subject in which one has done original research, as one presented by a candidate for a diploma or degree.
4.
Music. the downward stroke in conducting; downbeat. Compare arsis(def. 1).
5.
Prosody.
a.
a part of a metrical foot that does not bear the ictus or stress.
b.
(less commonly) the part of a metrical foot that bears the ictus. Compare arsis(def. 2).
an interpretive method, originally used to relate specific entities or events to the absolute idea, in which some assertible proposition (thesis) is necessarily opposed by an equally assertible and apparently contradictory proposition (antithesis), the mutual contradiction being reconciled on a higher level of truth by a third proposition (synthesis).
A dissertation advancing an original point of view as a result of research, especially as a requirement for an academic degree.
A hypothetical proposition, especially one put forth without proof.
The first stage of the Hegelian dialectic process.
The long or accented part of a metrical foot, especially in quantitative verse.
The unaccented or short part of a metrical foot, especially in accentual verse.
Music The accented section of a measure.
[Latin, from Greek, from tithenai, to put; see dhē- in Indo-European roots. Senses 5 and 6, Middle English, from Late Latin, lowering of the voice, from Greek, downbeat, from tithenai.]
1398, "unaccented syllable or note," from L. thesis "unaccented syllable in poetry," later "stressed part of a metrical foot," from Gk. thesis "a proposition," also "downbeat" (in music), originally "a setting down or placing," from root of tithenai "to place, put, set," from PIE base *dhe- "to put, to do" (see factitious). Sense in logic of "a proposition, statement to be proved" is first recorded 1579; that of "dissertation written by a candidate for a university degree" is from 1653.
A*nath"e*ma\, n.; pl. Anathemas. [L. anath?ma, fr. Gr. ? anything devoted, esp. to evil, a curse; also L. anath?ma, fr. Gr. ? a votive offering; all fr. ? to set up as a votive gift, dedicate; ? up + ? to set. See Thesis.]1. A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, and accompanied by excommunication. Hence: Denunciation of anything as accursed. [They] denounce anathemas against unbelievers. --Priestley. 2. An imprecation; a curse; a malediction. Finally she fled to London followed by the anathemas of both [families]. --Thackeray. 3. Any person or thing anathematized, or cursed by ecclesiastical authority. The Jewish nation were an anathema destined to destruction. St. Paul . . . says he could wish, to save them from it, to become an anathema, and be destroyed himself. --Locke. Anathema Maranatha(see --1 Cor. xvi. 22), an expression commonly considered as a highly intensified form of anathema. Maran atha is now considered as a separate sentence, meaning, "Our Lord cometh."
An*tith"e*sis\, n.; pl. Antitheses. [L., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to set against, to oppose; ? against + ? to set. See Thesis.]1. (Rhet.) An opposition or contrast of words or sentiments occurring in the same sentence; as, "The prodigal robs his heir; the miser robs himself." "He had covertly shot at Cromwell; he how openly aimed at the Queen." 2. The second of two clauses forming an antithesis. 3. Opposition; contrast.
A*poth"e*ca*ry\, n.; pl. Apothecaries. [OE. apotecarie, fr. LL. apothecarius, fr. L. apotheca storehouse, Gr. apo, fr. ? to put away; ? from + ? to put: cf. F. apothicaire, OF. apotecaire. See Thesis.] One who prepares and sells drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes. Note: In England an apothecary is one of a privileged class of practitioners -- a kind of sub-physician. The surgeon apothecary is the ordinary family medical attendant. One who sells drugs and makes up prescriptions is now commonly called in England a druggist or a pharmaceutical chemist. Apothecaries' weight, the system of weights by which medical prescriptions were formerly compounded. The pound and ounce are the same as in Troy weight; they differ only in the manner of subdivision. The ounce is divided into 8 drams, 24 scruples, 480 grains. See Troy weight.
Ar"sis\ ([aum]r"s[i^]s), n. [L. arsis, Gr. 'a`rsis a raising or lifting, an elevation of the voice, fr. a'i`rein to raise or lift up. Its ordinary use is the result of am early misapprehension; originally and properly it denotes the lifting of the hand in beating time, and hence the unaccented part of the rhythm.]1. (Pros.) (a) That part of a foot where the ictus is put, or which is distinguished from the rest (known as the thesis) of the foot by a greater stress of voice. --Hermann. (b) That elevation of voice now called metrical accentuation, or the rhythmic accent. Note: It is uncertain whether the arsis originally consisted in a higher musical tone, greater volume, or longer duration of sound, or in all combined. 2. (Mus.) The elevation of the hand, or that part of the bar at which it is raised, in beating time; the weak or unaccented part of the bar; -- opposed to thesis. --Moore.
Hy*poth"e*sis\, n.; pl. Hypotheses. [NL., fr. Gr. ? foundation, supposition, fr. ? to place under, ? under + ? to put. See Hypo-, Thesis.]1. A supposition; a proposition or principle which is supposed or taken for granted, in order to draw a conclusion or inference for proof of the point in question; something not proved, but assumed for the purpose of argument, or to account for a fact or an occurrence; as, the hypothesis that head winds detain an overdue steamer. An hypothesis being a mere supposition, there are no other limits to hypotheses than those of the human imagination. --J. S. Mill. 2. (Natural Science) A tentative theory or supposition provisionally adopted to explain certain facts, and to guide in the investigation of others; hence, frequently called a working hypothesis. Syn: Supposition; assumption. See Theory. Nebular hypothesis. See under Nebular.
Me*tath"e*sis\, n.; pl. Metatheses. [L., fr. Gr. meta`thesis, fr. metatithe`nai to place differently, to transpose; meta` beyond, over + tithe`nai to place, set. See Thesis.]1. (Gram.) Transposition, as of the letters or syllables of a word; as, pistris for pristis; meagre for meager. 2. (Med.) A mere change in place of a morbid substance, without removal from the body. 3. (Chem.) The act, process, or result of exchange, substitution, or replacement of atoms and radicals; thus, by metathesis an acid gives up all or part of its hydrogen, takes on an equivalent amount of a metal or base, and forms a salt.
Pa*ren"the*sis\, n.; pl. Parentheses. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to put in beside, insert; ? beside + ? in + ? to put, place. See Para-, En-, 2, and Thesis.]1. A word, phrase, or sentence, by way of comment or explanation, inserted in, or attached to, a sentence which would be grammatically complete without it. It is usually inclosed within curved lines (see def. 2 below), or dashes. "Seldom mentioned without a derogatory parenthesis." --Sir T. Browne. Don't suffer every occasional thought to carry you away into a long parenthesis. --Watts. 2. (Print.) One of the curved lines () which inclose a parenthetic word or phrase. Note: Parenthesis, in technical grammar, is that part of a sentence which is inclosed within the recognized sign; but many phrases and sentences which are punctuated by commas are logically parenthetical. In def. 1, the phrase "by way of comment or explanation" is inserted for explanation, and the sentence would be grammatically complete without it. The present tendency is to avoid using the distinctive marks, except when confusion would arise from a less conspicuous separation.
Syn"the*sis\, n.; pl. Syntheses. [L., a mixture, properly, a putting together, Gr. ?, fr. ? to place or put together; sy`n with + ? to place. See Thesis.]1. Composition, or the putting of two or more things together, as in compounding medicines. 2. (Chem.) The art or process of making a compound by putting the ingredients together, as contrasted with analysis; thus, water is made by synthesis from hydrogen and oxygen; hence, specifically, the building up of complex compounds by special reactions, whereby their component radicals are so grouped that the resulting substances are identical in every respect with the natural articles when such occur; thus, artificial alcohol, urea, indigo blue, alizarin, etc., are made by synthesis. 3. (Logic) The combination of separate elements of thought into a whole, as of simple into complex conceptions, species into genera, individual propositions into systems; -- the opposite of analysis. Analysis and synthesis, though commonly treated as two different methods, are, if properly understood, only the two necessary parts of the same method. Each is the relative and correlative of the other. --Sir W. Hamilton.
Theme\, n. [OE. teme, OF. teme, F. th[`e]me, L. thema, Gr. ?, fr. ? to set, place. See Do, and cf. Thesis.]1. A subject or topic on which a person writes or speaks; a proposition for discussion or argument; a text. My theme is alway one and ever was. --Chaucer. And when a soldier was the theme, my name Was not far off. --Shak. 2. Discourse on a certain subject. Then ran repentance and rehearsed his theme. --Piers Plowman. It was the subject of my theme. --Shak. 3. A composition or essay required of a pupil. --Locke. 4. (Gram.) A noun or verb, not modified by inflections; also, that part of a noun or verb which remains unchanged (except by euphonic variations) in declension or conjugation; stem. 5. That by means of which a thing is done; means; instrument. [Obs.] --Swift. 6. (Mus.) The leading subject of a composition or a movement.
The"sis\, n.; pl. Theses. [L., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to place, set. See Do, and cf. Anathema, Apothecary, Epithet, Hypothesis, Parenthesis, Theme, Tick a cover.]1. A position or proposition which a person advances and offers to maintain, or which is actually maintained by argument. 2. Hence, an essay or dissertation written upon specific or definite theme; especially, an essay presented by a candidate for a diploma or degree. I told them of the grave, becoming, and sublime deportment they should assume upon this mystical occasion, and read them two homilies and a thesis of my own composing, to prepare them. --Goldsmith. 3. (Logic) An affirmation, or distinction from a supposition or hypothesis. 4. (Mus.) The accented part of the measure, expressed by the downward beat; -- the opposite of arsis. 5. (Pros.) (a) The depression of the voice in pronouncing the syllables of a word. (b) The part of the foot upon which such a depression falls.
Tick\, n. [LL. techa, teca, L. theca case, Gr. ?, fr. ? to put. See Thesis.]1. The cover, or case, of a bed, mattress, etc., which contains the straw, feathers, hair, or other filling. 2. Ticking. See Ticking, n.
Treas"ure\, n. [OE. tresor, tresour, F. tr['e]sor, L. thesaurus, Gr. ? a stone laid up, treasure, probably from the root of ? to put, place. See Thesis, and cf. Thesaurus.]1. Wealth accumulated; especially, a stock, or store of money in reserve. This treasure hath fortune unto us given. --Chaucer. 2. A great quantity of anything collected for future use; abundance; plenty. We have treasures in the field, of wheat and of barley, and of oil and of honey. --Jer. xli. 8. 3. That which is very much valued. Ye shall be peculiar treasure unto me. --Ex. xix. 5. From thy wardrobe bring thy chiefest treasure. --Milton. Treasure city, a city for stores and magazines. --Ex. i. 11.
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