SAT Vocab: Understanding ‘Surmise’ – Meaning and Usage
Learn about the word ‘surmise’ in this SAT vocabulary lesson. Discover its meaning as both a verb and noun, explore its etymology, and see examples of how to use it correctly in sentences. Avoid common mistakes and expand your vocabulary for the SAT.
Imagine you’re walking down the street and you see someone rushing by with a bouquet of flowers and a worried expression.
You might surmise they’re running late for an important date. But what does surmise actually mean? Let’s find out in today’s SAT vocabulary lesson.
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 formed from scanty evidence, or a guess.
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 super, meaning over, and mittere, meaning to send.
Antonyms:
Some antonyms for surmise include know, prove, verify, and confirm.
Synonyms: Synonyms for surmise include guess, speculate, conjecture, hypothesize, and infer.
Examples use in sentences: Here are a few examples of how to use surmise in a sentence: As a verb: From the heavy traffic and closed streets, we surmised that a parade was about to begin.
As a noun: His surmise about the surprise party turned out to be correct. In literature, you might encounter a sentence like this: The detective could only surmise the motive for the crime based on the limited evidence available.
Common errors in use: One common mistake is confusing surmise with summarize. While surmise means to guess or infer, summarize means to give a brief statement of the main points.
Another error is using surmise when you have concrete evidence. Remember, surmise implies a lack of certainty.
To wrap up, surmise is a valuable word for expressing educated guesses or hypotheses. It’s particularly useful in academic writing when discussing theories or interpreting evidence.
As you prepare for the SAT, try to incorporate surmise into your own writing and conversations. The more you practice, the more natural it will become.
Remember, every time you make an educated guess, you’re surmising!
