Mental conception; reflection, consideration. 16th-18th c.
A phenomena and correctly predicts new facts or phenomena not previously observed, or which sets out the laws and principles of something known or observed; a hypothesis confirmed by observation, experiment etc. from 17th c.
The underlying principles or methods of a given technical skill, art etc., as opposed to its practice. from 17th c.
A field of study attempting to exhaustively describe a particular class of constructs. from 18th c.
A hypothesis or conjecture. from 18th c.
A set of axioms together with all statements derivable from them. Equivalently, a formal language plus a set of axioms (from which can then be derived theorems).
Used loosely, a tentative conjecture explaining an observation, phenomenon or scientific problem that can be tested by further observation, investigation and/or experimentation. As a scientific term of art, see the attached quotation. Compare to theory, and quotation given there.
An assumption taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation.
The antecedent of a conditional statement.
