hypothesis
/haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
ὑπόθεσις (hupothesis) — foundation, supposition, proposal
Overview
Meaning Now
- A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
- A proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.
Literal older meaning
a placing under, a foundation
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → Late Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
hypothesis
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term originated in Greek philosophical discourse, referring to a base or foundation upon which an argument or mathematical proof is built. During the scientific revolution, the meaning shifted toward its current scientific sense: a testable conjecture.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
ὑπόθεσις
“foundation, base, proposition”
Used in rhetoric and mathematics.
- Latin
hypothesis
“supposition, argument”
Direct loan from Greek into philosophical Latin.
- Early Modern English
hypothesis
“a tentative theory”
Adopted into scholarly English scientific vocabulary.
Connections
Word parts
hypo-
prefix
under
thesis
root
placing, setting
Related across languages
French
hypothèse
hypothesis
German
Hypothese
hypothesis
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Related to hypothesis
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.