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surmise

Syllabification: (sur·mise)

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Definition of surmise

verb

Pronunciation: /sərˈmīz/

[no object, usually with clause]

suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it:he surmised that something must be wrong [with direct speech]:“I don’t think they’re locals,” she surmised

noun

Pronunciation: /sərˈmīz, ˈsərˌmīz/

a supposition that something may be true, even though there is no evidence to confirm it:Charles was glad to have his surmise confirmed all these observations remain surmise

Origin:

late Middle English (in the senses 'formal allegation' and 'allege formally'): from Anglo-Norman French and Old French surmise, feminine past participle of surmettre 'accuse', from late Latin supermittere 'put in afterward', from super- 'over' + mittere 'send'

surmise in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of surmise in the British & World English dictionary

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