Surmise

n. Surmise. [Obs.] Milton.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. SURMISED; p. pr. & vb. n. SURMISING.] [From the noun; O. Eng. surmit. See infra.] To imagine without certain knowledge; to infer or suppose.

It wafted nearer yet, and then she knew That what before she but surmised was true. Dryden.

This change was not wrought by altering the form or position of the earth, as was surmised by a very learned man, but by dissolving it. Woodward.

n. [O. Fr. surmise, accusation, from surmettre, p. p. surmis, to impose, accuse, from sur, over, upon, and mettre, to put, set; Norm. Fr. surmitter, p. p. surmys, to accuse, suggest, surmise.] The thought or imagination that something may be, on feeble or scanty evidence; suspicion; as, the surmises of jealousy or of envy.

We double honor gain From his surmise proved false. Milton.

No man ought to be charged with principles he disowns, unless his practices contradict his professions; not upon small surmises. Swift.

Synonyms— Conjecture; supposition; suspicion; doubt.