premise

I. noun also premiss Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English premisse, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, feminine of praemissus, past participle of praemittere to place ahead, from prae- pre- + mittere to send; in other senses, from Middle English premisses, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, neuter plural of praemissus Date: 14th century 1. a. a proposition antecedently supposed or proved as a basis of argument or inference; specifically either of the first two propositions of a syllogism from which the conclusion is drawn b. something assumed or taken for granted ; presupposition 2. plural matters previously stated; specifically the preliminary and explanatory part of a deed or of a bill in equity 3. plural [from its being identified in the premises of the deed] a. a tract of land with the buildings thereon b. a building or part of a building usually with its appurtenances (as grounds) II. transitive verb (premised; premising) Date: 1526 1. a. to set forth beforehand as an introduction or a postulate b. to offer as a premise in an argument 2. postulate 3. to base on certain assumptions