premise Definition

premise
noun

1. Something assumed to be true as a basis for stating something further.

Thesaurus: ground, supposition, assertion, thesis, hypothesis, presupposition, statement, proposition, stipulation, assumption, postulation, predication, postulate.
Form: premiss (also)
2. logic.
Either of the propositions introducing a syllogism.

verb

1. To assume or state as a premise.

Thesaurus: introduce, begin, commence, start, announce, state, stipulate, propose, proffer, suggest, postulate, suppose, predicate, lay down, assume, presuppose, posit, hypothesize.

Etymology: 14c: from French prémisse, from Latin praemissa things preceding, from praemittere to put before.