Hy*poth"e*nuse (?), n. Same as Hypotenuse.
Hy*poth"e*sis (?), n.; pl. Hypotheses (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
foundation, supposition, fr. &?; to place under, &?; under + &?; to
put. See Hypo-, Thesis.] 1. A supposition; a proposition or principle
which is supposed or taken for granted, in order to draw a conclusion
or inference for proof of the point in question; something not proved,
but assumed for the purpose of argument, or to account for a fact or an
occurrence; as, the hypothesis that head winds detain an overdue
steamer.
An hypothesis being a mere supposition, there are no other limits
to hypotheses than those of the human imagination.
J. S. Mill.
2. (Natural Science) A tentative theory or supposition provisionally
adopted to explain certain facts, and to guide in the investigation of
others; hence, frequently called a working hypothesis.
Syn. -- Supposition; assumption. See Theory.
Nebular hypothesis. See under Nebular.
{ Hy`po*thet"ic (?), Hy`po*thet"ic*al (?), } a. [L. hypotheticus, Gr.
&?;: cf. F. hypothÈtique.] Characterized by, or of the nature of, an
hypothesis; conditional; assumed without proof, for the purpose of
reasoning and deducing proof, or of accounting for some fact or
phenomenon.
Causes hypothetical at least, if not real, for the various
phenomena of the existence of which our experience informs us.
Sir W. Hamilton.
Hypothetical baptism (Ch. of Eng.), baptism administered to persons in
respect to whom it is doubtful whether they have or have not been
baptized before. Hook.
-- Hy`po*thet"ic*al*ly, adv. South.