premise
noun /ˈpremɪs/
/ˈpremɪs/
(also British English, less frequent premiss)
(formal)- a statement or an idea that forms the basis for a reasonable line of argument
- the basic premise of her argument
- The argument rests on a false premise.
- His reasoning is based on the premise that all people are equally capable of good and evil.
- The premise on which they worked was that there would always be enough natural resources to support them.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French premisse, from medieval Latin praemissa (propositio) ‘(proposition) set in front’, from Latin praemittere, from prae ‘before’ + mittere ‘send’.