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surmise definition

sur·mise (sər mīz′; for n., also sʉr′mīz′)

noun

  1. an idea or opinion formed from evidence that is neither positive nor conclusive; conjecture; guess
  2. the act or process of surmising; conjecture in general

Etymology: ME surmyse < OFr surmise, accusation, fem. of surmis, pp. of surmettre, lit., to put upon, hence to accuse < sur- (see sur-) + mettre, to put < L mittere, to send (see mission)

transitive verb, intransitive verb surmised -·mised′, surmising -·mis′·ing

to imagine or infer (something) without conclusive evidence; conjecture; guess

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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