premise

Pluralpremises

Formspremises, premising, premised

1. 1
   nouncountable

   An idea or fact that you accept as true and use as the base for an argument.

   Like the foundation of a house: everything else is built on top of it.

   The whole plan rests on a faulty premise.

   Her argument starts from the premise that everyone wants to be happy.

   Similarassumption, supposition, presupposition, hypothesis, basis

   Oppositeconclusion

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   One of the first statements in an argument that leads to a conclusion.

   Like building blocks at the bottom: if one is wrong, what sits on top falls down.

   Each premise must be true for the conclusion to hold.

   The teacher showed how a false premise leads to a wrong answer.

   Oppositeconclusion

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   The main idea that a story or movie is built around.

   Like the seed that a whole plant grows from.

   The movie's premise is that a boy can talk to animals.

   I loved the premise, but the ending was weak.

   Similarconcept, idea, setup, conceit, hook

   Note
4. 4
   noun

   A building together with the land and structures that belong to it.

   Like a house plus its yard and garage, all counted as one place.

   The bakery moved to larger premises across town last year.

   No smoking is allowed anywhere on these premises.

   Similarproperty, building, site, grounds

   Note
5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To say or assume something as the starting idea of an argument.

   Let me premise my point with a simple fact.

   They premise their whole case on one shaky idea.

   Similarbase, found, predicate, ground, rest

6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To say something first to help explain what comes next.

   Let me premise a few words before I explain the plan.

   She premised her talk with a short story.

   Similarpreface, introduce, precede, open, prefix

   Note
7. 7
   verbintransitive

   To put forward an idea as a premise.

   Before we argue, let us premise our main idea.

   He premised carefully before drawing any conclusions.

   Similarpostulate, assume, posit, hypothesize

   Oppositeconclude

8. 8
   nouncountable

   In a legal deed, the opening part that names the giver, the receiver, and the property being handed over.

   Like the first lines of a contract that say who is giving and who is receiving.

   The premises of the deed listed the seller, the buyer, and the land.

   Lawyers checked that the premises named the right property owner.

   Note
9. 9
   verbtransitive

   To send or use something earlier, so that it comes before something else.

   the premised flames of the last day

   1591, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt,”Here, premised means sent ahead of time, coming before the rest.

   Note

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