surmise Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
    guess; conjecture; supposition; surmisal; hypothesis; speculation.
  2. verb infer from incomplete evidence
  3. verb imagine to be the case or true or probable
    suspect.
    • I suspect he is a fugitive
    • I surmised that the butler did it

WordNet

Sur*mise" noun
Etymology
OF. surmise accusation, fr. surmettre, p.p. surmis, to impose, accuse; sur (see Sur-) + mettre to put, set, L. mittere to send. See Mission.
Definitions
  1. A thought, imagination, or conjecture, which is based upon feeble or scanty evidence; suspicion; guess; as, the surmisses of jealousy or of envy.
    [We] double honor gain From his surmise proved false. Milton.
    No man ought to be charged with principles he actually disowns, unless his practicies contradict his profession; not upon small surmises. Swift.
  2. Reflection; thought. Obs. Shak. Syn. -- Conjecture; supposition; suspicion; doubt.
Sur*mise" transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Surmised ; present participle & verbal noun Surmising
Definitions
  1. To imagine without certain knowledge; to infer on slight grounds; to suppose, conjecture, or suspect; to guess.
    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.

Webster 1913