2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Hypothesis  \Hy*poth"e*sis\,  n.;  pl  {Hypotheses}.  [NL.,  fr  Gr 
  ?  foundation,  supposition,  fr  ?  to  place  under  ?  under  +  ? 
  to  put  See  {Hypo-},  {Thesis}.] 
  1.  A  supposition;  a  proposition  or  principle  which  is 
  supposed  or  taken  for  granted,  in  order  to  draw  a 
  conclusion  or  inference  for  proof  of  the  point  in 
  question;  something  not  proved,  but  assumed  for  the 
  purpose  of  argument,  or  to  account  for  a  fact  or  an 
  occurrence;  as  the  hypothesis  that  head  winds  detain  an 
  overdue  steamer. 
 
  An  hypothesis  being  a  mere  supposition,  there  are  no 
  other  limits  to  hypotheses  than  those  of  the  human 
  imagination.  --J.  S.  Mill. 
 
  2.  (Natural  Science)  A  tentative  theory  or  supposition 
  provisionally  adopted  to  explain  certain  facts,  and  to 
  guide  in  the  investigation  of  others  hence  frequently 
  called  a  working  hypothesis. 
 
  Syn:  Supposition;  assumption.  See  {Theory}. 
 
  {Nebular  hypothesis}.  See  under  {Nebular}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  hypothesis 
  n  1:  a  proposal  intended  to  explain  certain  facts  or  observations 
  2:  a  concept  that  is  not  yet  verified  but  that  if  true  would 
  explain  certain  facts  or  phenomena;  "he  proposed  a  fresh 
  theory  of  alkalis  that  later  was  accepted  in  chemical 
  practices"  [syn:  {possibility},  {theory}] 
  3:  a  message  expressing  an  opinion  based  on  incomplete  evidence 
  [syn:  {guess},  {conjecture},  {supposition},  {surmise},  {speculation}] 

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