hypothesis

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromὑπόθεσις“base, basis of an argument, supposition”
2. Late Latin · derived fromhypothesis
3. Middle French · borrowed fromhypothese
4. English todayhypothesis

Recorded since 1596, from Middle French hypothese, from Late Latin hypothesis, from Ancient Greek ὑπόθεσις (hupóthesis, “base, basis of an argument, supposition”, literally “a placing under”), itself from ὑποτίθημι (hupotíthēmi, “to set before, suggest”), from ὑπό (hupó, “below”) + τίθημι (títhēmi, “to put, place”). Compare hypothec.

Words from the same roots