premise

plural premises · alternative premiss · alternative archaic præmise · alternative archaic præmiss

1. A proposition antecedently supposed or proved; something previously stated or assumed as the basis of further argument; a condition; a supposition.

   The premises observed, Thy will by my performance shall be served.

   c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

2. human sciencesAny of the first propositions of a syllogism, from which the conclusion is deduced.

   While the premises stand firm, 'tis impossible to shake the conclusion.

   1667, attributed to Richard Allestree, The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety. […], London: […] R. Norton for T. Garthwait, […], →OCLC

3. plural normallylawMatters previously stated or set forth; especially, that part in the beginning of a deed, the office of which is to express the grantor and grantee, and the land or thing granted or conveyed, and all that precedes the habendum; the thing demised or granted.
4. plural normallyA piece of real estate; a building and its adjuncts.

   trespass on another’s premises

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   On the premises is a beautiful lawn, well stocked with flowering shrubs; hard and soft water.

   1899 September 27, The Daily Review (Peterborough, Ont., Canada), volume 37, number 72, page 1a

   Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XIX, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

5. authorshipThe fundamental concept that drives the plot of a film or other story.

   In 1949, the simple premise of discovering ordinary people who have hidden, extraordinary talents came to prominence in the UK with Opportunity Knocks, which started out as a nationwide touring radio show, before moving onto TV in 1956.

   2021 September 15, Laura Martin, “How talent shows became TV's most bizarre programmes”, in BBC

present singular third person premises · participle present premising · participle past premised · past premised · alternative premiss · alternative archaic præmise · alternative archaic præmiss

1. To state or assume something as a proposition to an argument.
2. To make a premise.
3. To set forth beforehand, or as introductory to the main subject; to offer previously, as something to explain or aid in understanding what follows.

   I premise these particulars that the reader may know that I enter upon it as a very ungrateful task.

   1712 February 12 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “FRIDAY, February 2, 1711–1712”, in The Spectator, number 291; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC

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   Having premised thus much, we will now detain those who like our bill of fare no longer from their diet, and shall proceed directly to serve up the first course of our history for their entertainment.

   1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

4. To send before the time, or beforehand; hence, to cause to be before something else; to employ previously.

   1794–1796, Erasmus Darwin, Zoonomia if venesection can be previously performed, even to but few ounces, the effect of the opium is much more certain; and still more so, if there be time to premise a brisk cathartic, or even an emetic

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   the premised flames of the last day

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]