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hypothesis

 - 6 dictionary results

hy⋅poth⋅e⋅sis

  [hahy-poth-uh-sis, hi-]
Use hypothesis in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ses  [-seez] .
1. a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
2. a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.
3. the antecedent of a conditional proposition.
4. a mere assumption or guess.
Origin:
1590–1600; < Gk hypóthesis basis, supposition. See hypo-, thesis

Related forms:
hy⋅poth⋅e⋅sist, noun

Synonyms:
1. See theory.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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hy·poth·e·sis   (hī-pŏth'ĭ-sĭs)   
n.   pl. hy·poth·e·ses (-sēz')

  1. A tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.

  2. Something taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation; an assumption.

  3. The antecedent of a conditional statement.


[Latin, subject for a speech, from Greek hupothesis, proposal, supposition, from hupotithenai, hupothe-, to suppose : hupo-, hypo- + tithenai, to place; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

hypothesis [(heye-poth-uh-sis)]

plur. hypotheses (heye-poth-uh-seez)

In science, a statement of a possible explanation for some natural phenomenon. A hypothesis is tested by drawing conclusions from it; if observation and experimentation show a conclusion to be false, the hypothesis must be false. (See scientific method and theory.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hypothesis 
1596, from M.Fr. hypothese, from L.L. hypothesis, from Gk. hypothesis "base, basis of an argument, supposition," lit. "a placing under," from hypo- "under" + thesis "a placing, proposition." A term in logic; narrower scientific sense is 1646; hypothetical is 1588.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: hy·poth·e·sis
Pronunciation: hI-'päth-&-s&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural hy·poth·e·ses /-"sEz/
: a proposition tentatively assumed in order to draw out its logical or empirical consequences and test its consistency withfacts that are known or may be determined hypothesis that it be … of such a nature as to be either proved ordisproved by comparison with observed facts —J. S. Mill> hypotheses —Bernard Bosanquet>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

hypothesis hy·poth·e·sis (hī-pŏth'ĭ-sĭs)
n. pl. hy·poth·e·ses (-sēz')
A tentative explanation that accounts for a set of facts and can be tested by further investigation.

hy'po·thet'i·cal (hī'pə-thět'ĭ-kəl) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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