guess
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Etymology
Middle English gessen (“‘to estimate, aim at’”). Perhaps of Scandinavian origin, akin to Danish gisse (“‘to guess’”), Swedish gissa, or akin to Middle Dutch gessen, Low Saxon gissen (“‘to guess’”).
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
guess (plural guesses)
- A prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.
- 1907, L. Frank Baum, Ozma of Oz:
- "But I shall have eleven guesses," answered Ozma. "Surely I ought to guess one object in eleven correctly; and, if I do, I shall rescue one of the royal family and be safe myself. Then the rest of you may attempt it, and soon we shall free all those who are enslaved."
- 1907, L. Frank Baum, Ozma of Oz:
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Translations
prediction about the outcome of something
[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to guess (third-person singular simple present guesses, present participle guessing, simple past and past participle guessed)
- To reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion.
- 1914–1915, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear:
- "Are you a member of the union?"
"Sure."
"Then you'll get your job, I guess. Have you any friends?"
- "Are you a member of the union?"
- 1914–1915, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Valley of Fear:
- To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly.
- He who guesses the riddle shall have the ring.
- (mainly US) to suppose (introducing a proposition of uncertain plausibility).
- That album is quite hard to find, but I guess you could look online for a sample song.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Translations
to reach an unqualified conclusion
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[edit] External links
- guess in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- guess in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
