Understanding ‘Surmise’: Making Educated Guesses
Learn about the word ‘surmise’ and its usage in English. Discover its meaning as both a verb and noun, explore its etymology, and see examples of how to use it correctly in sentences. This video also covers common mistakes to avoid when using ‘surmise’ in your vocabulary.
Imagine you’re walking down the street and you see a friend in the distance, talking animatedly on their phone.
They look upset. Without hearing the conversation, you might surmise that they’ve received bad news. This ability to make an educated guess based on limited information is exactly what the word surmise means.
Word type: Surmise can function as both a verb and a noun.
Meaning: As a verb, surmise means to suppose or guess something without having firm evidence.
As a noun, it refers to an idea or opinion based on incomplete information.
Word history: The word surmise entered the English language in the 15th century.
It comes from the Middle English surmisen, which in turn derives from the Anglo-French surmis, past participle of surmettre, meaning to accuse.
This ultimately traces back to the Latin supermittere, which means to put on top.
Antonyms: Some antonyms of surmise include know, prove, verify, and confirm.
Synonyms: Synonyms for surmise include conjecture, speculate, guess, infer, and presume.
Examples use in sentences:
Here are a few examples of how to use surmise in a sentence: As a verb: From the crumbs on his shirt, I surmised that he had eaten a cookie without asking.
As a noun: Her surmise about the surprise party turned out to be correct. In a more complex sentence: The detective, examining the crime scene, surmised that the perpetrator must have been left-handed, based on the angle of the broken window.
Common errors in use: One common error when using surmise is confusing it with similar words like assume or presume.
While these words are related, surmise implies a guess based on even less evidence than assume or presume.
Another mistake is using surmise when you actually have concrete evidence. Remember, surmise is about making an educated guess with limited information.
To wrap up, surmise is a valuable word for GRE vocabulary, as it precisely describes the act of making an educated guess with limited information.
Whether you’re analyzing literature, discussing scientific hypotheses, or simply describing everyday situations, surmise can add precision and sophistication to your language.
Next time you find yourself making an educated guess, try using the word surmise to describe your thought process.
