hypothesis English · revision 15285

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1596|origins=grc τίθημι}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs/, /hɪˈpɒθɪsɪs/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-lat|hypothesis]], perhaps influenced by [[frm|hypothèse]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[grc|ὑπόθεσις|tr=hupóthesis|t=foundation, basis of an argument, supposition]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|grc|ὑπό|tr=hupó|t=under]] and [[m|grc|θέσις|tr=thésis|t=a placing, proposition]] (see [[thesis]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[m|grc|ὑποτίθημι|tr=hupotíthēmi|t=to put under, suppose]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A particular case of a general thesis or proposition: 1596 in Barnhart and the OED, the 1590s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A proposition assumed as a premise is from the 1650s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a groundless supposition from 1625.^(OED 1989) The scientific sense, a supposition put forward to explain known facts, is from 1646,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) which Barnhart finds curiously late.^(Barnhart 1988) Hypothesize is from 1738.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1596 – a particular thesis.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1625 – a mere assumption.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1646 – a scientific hypothesis.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1656 – a premise.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A proposed explanation for a set of facts that can be tested by further investigation.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something assumed to be true for the sake of argument; an [[assumption]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(logic)'' The [[antecedent]] of a conditional statement.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hypothesist]]

+ * [[counterhypothesis]]

+ * [[hypothesize]]

+ * [[hypothetical]]

+ * [[subhypothesis]]

+ * [[alternative hypothesis]]

+ * [[continuum hypothesis]]

+ * [[Gaia hypothesis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[thesis]]

+ * [[theme]]

+ * [[synthesis]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}