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more about hypothesis
hypothesis |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Hypothesis \Hy*poth"e*sis\, n.; pl {Hypotheses}. [NL., fr Gr ? foundation, supposition, fr ? to place under ? under + ? to put See {Hypo-}, {Thesis}.] 1. A supposition; a proposition or principle which is supposed or taken for granted, in order to draw a conclusion or inference for proof of the point in question; something not proved, but assumed for the purpose of argument, or to account for a fact or an occurrence; as the hypothesis that head winds detain an overdue steamer. An hypothesis being a mere supposition, there are no other limits to hypotheses than those of the human imagination. --J. S. Mill. 2. (Natural Science) A tentative theory or supposition provisionally adopted to explain certain facts, and to guide in the investigation of others hence frequently called a working hypothesis. Syn: Supposition; assumption. See {Theory}. {Nebular hypothesis}. See under {Nebular}. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: hypothesis n 1: a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations 2: a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices" [syn: {possibility}, {theory}] 3: a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence [syn: {guess}, {conjecture}, {supposition}, {surmise}, {speculation}]
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