surmise

[ verb ser-mahyz; noun ser-mahyz, sur-mahyz ]
/ verb sərˈmaɪz; noun sərˈmaɪz, ˈsɜr maɪz /

verb (used with object), sur·mised, sur·mis·ing.

to think or infer without certain or strong evidence; conjecture; guess.

verb (used without object), sur·mised, sur·mis·ing.

to conjecture or guess.

noun

a matter of conjecture.
an idea or thought of something as being possible or likely.
a conjecture or opinion.

Origin of surmise

1350–1400; Middle English surmisen < Anglo-French surmis(e), Middle French (past participle of surmettre to accuse < Latin supermittere to throw upon), equivalent to sur- sur-1 + mis (masculine), mise (feminine) < Latin missus, missa, equivalent to mit(tere) to send + -tus, -ta past participle suffix

SYNONYMS FOR surmise

OTHER WORDS FROM surmise

Example sentences from the Web for surmises

British Dictionary definitions for surmises

surmise

verb (sɜːˈmaɪz)

(when tr, may take a clause as object) to infer (something) from incomplete or uncertain evidence

noun (sɜːˈmaɪz, ˈsɜːmaɪz)

an idea inferred from inconclusive evidence

Derived forms of surmise

surmisable, adjective surmiser, noun

Word Origin for surmise

C15: from Old French, from surmettre to accuse, from Latin supermittere to throw over, from super- + mittere to send