premise: Meaning and Definition of

prem•ise

Pronunciation: (prem'is), [key]
— n., v., -ised, -is•ing.
—n.
  1. a proposition supporting or helping to support a conclusion.
    1. a tract of land including its buildings.
    2. a building together with its grounds or other appurtenances.
    3. the property forming the subject of a conveyance or bequest.
    1. a basis, stated or assumed, on which reasoning proceeds.
    2. an earlier statement in a document.
    3. (in a bill in equity) the statement of facts upon which the complaint is based.
—v.t.
  1. to set forth beforehand, as by way of introduction or explanation.
  2. to assume, either explicitly or implicitly, (a proposition) as a premise for a conclusion.
—v.i.
  1. to state or assume a premise.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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