1. (n.) Something previously stated or assumed as the basis of further argument; a condition; a supposition\.

2. (n.) Either of the first two propositions of a syllogism, from which the conclusion is drawn.

3. (n.) Matters previously stated or set forth; esp., that part in the beginning of a deed, the office of which is to express the grantor and grantee, and the land or thing granted or conveyed, and all that precedes the habendum; the thing demised or granted.

4. (n.) A piece of real estate; a building and its adjuncts; as, to lease premises; to trespass on another's premises.

5. (n.) To send before the time, or beforehand; hence, to cause to be before something else; to employ previously.

6. (n.) To set forth beforehand, or as introductory to the main subject; to offer previously, as something to explain or aid in understanding what follows; especially, to lay down premises or first propositions, on which rest the subsequent reasonings.

7. (v. i.) To make a premise; to set forth something as a premise.

a priori principle affirmation ancestor antecedent apriorism argue assert assertion assume assumed position assumption avant-propos axiom basis basis for belief body of evidence breakthrough categorical proposition chain of evidence clue conjecture data datum documentation evidence exhibit exordium fact facts first principles forerunner foreword foundation front matter frontispiece ground grounds grounds for belief guesswork hypothecate hypothesis hypothesis ad hoc hypothesize indication inference innovation introduce introduction item of evidence leap lemma major premise manifestation mark material grounds minor premise muniments mute witness overture philosopheme philosophical proposition piece of evidence posit position postulate postulation postulatum preamble precedent precursor predicate preface prefix prefixture preliminary prelude premises premiss presume presumption presupposal presuppose presupposition proem prolegomena prolegomenon prolepsis prologize prologue proof proposal propose proposition propositional function protasis put forth reason to believe relevant fact set forth set of postulates sign statement sumption supposal suppose supposing supposition surmise symptom theorem theorize thesis token truth table truth-function truth-value verse voluntary working hypothesis