Vocabulary word Surmise - Practice with online flashcards, spelling bees and vocabulary quizzes

Curiosity and Inquiry

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Judgement and Decision-Making

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Scientific and Methodical

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TOEFL 2

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Dictionary Definition of surmise

To forming an opinion or making an assumption based on incomplete or uncertain information.
"I can only surmise what happened since I wasn't there to witness it."

Detailed Meaning of Surmise

When someone surmises something, they are making an educated guess or inference about a particular situation or problem, based on their own intuition and the available evidence. Surmising can involve piecing together clues, reading between the lines, and using one's own knowledge and experience to draw a conclusion. While surmising can be a useful tool for making decisions or solving problems when there is incomplete information available, it can also be risky, as it may involve making assumptions or drawing conclusions without sufficient evidence. As such, it is important to be mindful of the limitations of surmising and to seek out additional information or evidence when possible to support one's conclusions. Additionally, it is important to be open to the possibility that one's surmises may be incorrect, and to adjust one's assumptions and conclusions as new information becomes available.

Example Sentences for Surmise

1. From your expression, I surmise you're not pleased with the decision.
2. We can only surmise the reasons for his abrupt departure.
3. Given the circumstances, one might surmise that he left under pressure.
4. You surmise correctly when you say that I've been busy lately.
5. From the clues left behind, detectives surmise a struggle took place.
6. I surmise that your journey was more challenging than you expected.

Origin and Etymology of Surmise

The verb 'surmise' has its etymological roots in the Middle French word 'surmettre,' which is a combination of 'sur,' meaning 'over' or 'above,' and 'mettre,' meaning 'to put.' This etymology suggests the idea of placing something above or beyond what is immediately evident. When we surmise, we are essentially putting forth an opinion or assumption based on incomplete or uncertain information, indicating that our judgment goes beyond the concrete facts available. The term 'surmise' conveys a sense of inference and conjecture, where one mentally places an interpretation or idea above the existing evidence, often implying an element of speculation or educated guesswork in forming conclusions or opinions when the full picture is not entirely clear.

Quiz Question - Test Your Understanding

Find the correct meaning of the verb surmise:

validate

establish

guess

confirm

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Correct!

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More Usage Examples of Surmise

1. Based on your symptoms, I surmise you might be suffering from allergies.
2. They surmise that the lost city lies beneath these sands.
3. From the data, we surmise a major shift in consumer behavior.
4. Given her sudden change in behavior, I surmise something might have upset her.
5. Based on his quiet demeanor, one could surmise he was a man of few words.
6. I surmise that we've made a significant discovery here.
7. You surmise correctly, my interest in art began at a young age.
8. Judging by the fossil record, scientists surmise dinosaurs were wiped out by a large meteorite.
9. The fact that you're still here leads me to surmise you didn't find what you were looking for.
10. She seems content, so I surmise the news was good.
11. With this evidence, we can surmise that there might be other habitable planets in our galaxy.
12. By the look on his face, I surmise he already knows the truth.
13. His answer was vague, so I can only surmise his true intentions.
14. Looking at these ancient artifacts, we surmise that the civilization was technologically advanced.