Definition:Premise

Definition
A premise is an assumption that is used as a basis from which to start to construct an argument.

When the validity or otherwise of a proof is called into question, one may request the arguer to "check your premises".

Also known as
Some sources use the word hypothesis, but this tends nowadays to have a slightly different meaning from premise.

The word supposition is also found.

Some sources use the older (some say archaic) spelling premiss, whose plural is premisses.

Also defined as
Some authors use the term premise to mean the antecedent of a conditional statement.

Also see

 * Definition:Conclusion


 * Rule of Assumption