guess

English

/ɡɛs/

verb
Definitions
  • To reach a partly (or totally) unqualified conclusion.
  • To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly.
  • (chiefly) to suppose (introducing a proposition of uncertain plausibility).
  • (colloquial) To think, conclude, or decide (without a connotation of uncertainty). Usually in first person: "I guess".
  • (obsolete) To hit upon or reproduce by memory.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English gessen derived from Old Danish getse derived from Old Norse *getsa derived from Proto-Germanic *gitisōną (guess), *getaną (get, acquire) derived from Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- (seize, take, grasp, hold), *gʰed- (seize, take, grasp, hold).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*gʰed-

Gloss

seize, take, grasp, hold

Concept
Semantic Field

Possession

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms