SURMISE

guess, conjecture, supposition, surmise, surmisal, speculation, hypothesis

(noun) a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence

surmise

(verb) infer from incomplete evidence

suspect, surmise

(verb) imagine to be the case or true or probable; “I suspect he is a fugitive”; “I surmised that the butler did it”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

surmise (countable and uncountable, plural surmises)

Thought, imagination, or conjecture, which may be based upon feeble or scanty evidence; suspicion; guess.

Reflection; thought; posit.

Verb

surmise (third-person singular simple present surmises, present participle surmising, simple past and past participle surmised)

To imagine or suspect; to conjecture; to posit with contestable premises.

Anagrams

• misuser

Source: Wiktionary

Sur*mise", n. Etym: [OF. surmise accusation, fr. surmettre, p.p. surmis, to impose, accuse; sur (see Sur-) + mettre to put, set, L. mittere to send. See Mission.]

1. A thought, imagination, or conjecture, which is based upon feeble or scanty evidence; suspicion; guess; as, the surmisses of jealousy or of envy. [We] double honor gain From his surmise proved false. Milton. No man ought to be charged with principles he actually disowns, unless his practicies contradict his profession; not upon small surmises. Swift.

2. Reflection; thought. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn.

– Conjecture; supposition; suspicion; doubt.

Sur*mise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Surmised; p. pr. & vb. n. Surmising.]

Definition: To imagine without certain knowledge; to infer on slight grounds; to suppose, conjecture, or suspect; to guess. It wafted nearer yet, and then she knew That what before she but surmised, was true. Dryden. This change was not wrought by altering the form or position of the earth, as was surmised by a very learned man, but by dissolving it. Woodward.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition