surmise

[verb ser-mahyz; noun ser-mahyz, sur-mahyz]

See more synonyms for surmise on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), sur·mised, sur·mis·ing.

to think or infer without certain or strong evidence; conjecture; guess.

verb (used without object), sur·mised, sur·mis·ing.

to conjecture or guess.

noun

a matter of conjecture.
an idea or thought of something as being possible or likely.
a conjecture or opinion.

Origin of surmise

1350–1400; Middle English surmisen < Anglo-French surmis(e), Middle French (past participle of surmettre to accuse < Latin supermittere to throw upon), equivalent to sur- sur-¹ + mis (masculine), mise (feminine) < Latin missus, missa, equivalent to mit(tere) to send + -tus, -ta past participle suffix

Related formssur·mis·a·ble, adjectivesur·mised·ly

[ser-mahyzd-lee, -mahy-zid-] /sərˈmaɪzd li, -ˈmaɪ zɪd-/, adverbsur·mis·er, nounun·sur·mised, adjectiveun·sur·mis·ing, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for surmise on Thesaurus.com

1. imagine, suppose, suspect. See guess.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for surmise

Contemporary Examples

He could surmise one item in keeping with young women of Somali heritage.
How ISIS’s Colorado Girls Were Caught
Michael Daly
October 22, 2014
“In retrospect, one could surmise that ISIS has been working towards this point for years now,” he says.
The Terrorist Caliph as Nation Builder in Iraq, Syria, and Beyond
Jamie Dettmer
July 8, 2014
In any event, Sarkozy supporters are correct to surmise that his detention is bad timing for the comeback bid.
France’s Ex-Prez Sarkozy Placed Under Formal Investigation for Corruption
Tracy McNicoll
July 2, 2014
She did, however, choose to surmise that “The nationality of the shooter, it sounds Hispanic, Latino,” based on his name.
The Ugliest, Creepiest Responses to the Fort Hood Shooting
Caitlin Dickson
April 3, 2014

Historical Examples

But since you ask for my opinion, you must tell me all you know or surmise of their inducements.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
For what purpose this umbrella may have been carried we can only surmise.
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 2, April 9, 1870
Various
With her appearance at C——-, commenced all that surmise could invent.
Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
"You are quite right in that surmise also," answered Miss Jennie.
Jennie Baxter, Journalist
Robert Barr
It is not difficult to surmise to what enterprises the President referred.
The Railroad Question
William Larrabee

British Dictionary definitions for surmise

surmise

verb (sɜːˈmaɪz)

(when tr, may take a clause as object) to infer (something) from incomplete or uncertain evidence

noun (sɜːˈmaɪz, ˈsɜːmaɪz)

an idea inferred from inconclusive evidence

Derived Formssurmisable, adjectivesurmiser, noun

Word Origin

C15: from Old French, from surmettre to accuse, from Latin supermittere to throw over, from super- + mittere to send

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for surmise

v.

c.1400, "to charge, allege," from Old French surmis, past participle of surmettre "to accuse," from sur- "upon" (see sur-) + mettre "put," from Latin mittere "to send" (see mission). Meaning "to infer conjecturally" is recorded from 1700. Related: Surmised; surmising.

n.

early 15c., legal, "a charge, a formal accusation;" see surmise (v.). Meaning "inference, guess" is first found in English 1580s.

surmise

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Synonyms

Examples from the Web for surmise

Contemporary Examples

He could surmise one item in keeping with young women of Somali heritage.

“In retrospect, one could surmise that ISIS has been working towards this point for years now,” he says.

In any event, Sarkozy supporters are correct to surmise that his detention is bad timing for the comeback bid.

She did, however, choose to surmise that “The nationality of the shooter, it sounds Hispanic, Latino,” based on his name.

Historical Examples

But since you ask for my opinion, you must tell me all you know or surmise of their inducements.

For what purpose this umbrella may have been carried we can only surmise.

With her appearance at C——-, commenced all that surmise could invent.

"You are quite right in that surmise also," answered Miss Jennie.

It is not difficult to surmise to what enterprises the President referred.

surmise

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for surmise

v.

n.

Origin of surmise