¹premise

noun prem·ise \ˈpre-məs\

premises : a building and the area of land that it is on

: a statement or idea that is accepted as being true and that is used as the basis of an argument

Full Definition of PREMISE

a : a proposition antecedently supposed or proved as a basis of argument or inference; specifically : either of the first two propositions of a syllogism from which the conclusion is drawn

b : something assumed or taken for granted : presupposition

plural : matters previously stated; specifically : the preliminary and explanatory part of a deed or of a bill in equity

plural [from its being identified in the premises of the deed]

a : a tract of land with the buildings thereon

b : a building or part of a building usually with its appurtenances (as grounds)

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Variants of PREMISE

prem·ise also pre·miss \ˈpre-məs\

Examples of PREMISE

Called behavioral ecology, it starts from the premise that social and environmental forces select for various behaviors that optimize people's fitness in a given environment. Different environment, different behaviors—and different human “natures.” —Sharon Begley, Newsweek, 29 June 2009
Although the Voting Rights Act served, in some measure, to formalize the notion of racial representation, its consequences undermined its premise—that a transparency of interests existed between the representative and the represented. —Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New Yorker, 24 Oct. 1994
Thirty years ago the modesty of the general expectation was still consistent with the original American premise of self-government. —Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1992
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Origin of PREMISE

in sense 1, from Middle English premisse, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, feminine of praemissus, past participle of praemittere to place ahead, from prae- pre- + mittere to send; in other senses, from Middle English premisses, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, neuter plural of praemissus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PREMISE

Synonyms: given, hypothetical, if, postulate, assumption (also premiss), presumption, presupposition, supposition

Other Logic Terms

a posteriori, connotation, corollary, inference, mutually exclusive, paradox, postulate, syllogism

²premise

verb pre·mise \ˈpre-məs also pri-ˈmīz\

pre·misedpre·mis·ing

Definition of PREMISE

transitive verb

a : to set forth beforehand as an introduction or a postulate

b : to offer as a premise in an argument

: postulate

: to base on certain assumptions

Examples of PREMISE

Niebuhr… adhered to a form of liberalism more premised on a realistic assessment of human nature than Rauschenbusch's naïve progressivism was. —Alan Wolfe, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 2007
Fears of a nuclear holocaust were fueled by President Nixon's “madman” theory of diplomacy. The madman theory was premised on the assumption that if the Soviets thought that Nixon was crazy enough to drop the bomb, they would leave us alone. —Will Manley, Booklist, 1 & 15 June 2006
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