thesis — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Senses relating to logic, rhetoric, etc. A proposition or statement supported by arguments.

   Usage

   • rhetoric

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   I submit these nine theses to Wikipedia’s community and to the world. I do this, as Martin Luther said when he posted his famous 95 theses, “Out of love for the truth and the desire to elucidate it.” […] I am confident that every thesis stands on solid ground.

2. Senses relating to logic, rhetoric, etc. A lengthy essay written to establish the validity of a thesis (sense 1.1), especially one submitted in order to complete the requirements for a non-doctoral degree in the US and a doctoral degree in the UK; a dissertation.

   Usage

   • broadly

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   I told them of the grave, becoming, and ſublime deportment they ſhould aſſume upon this myſtical occaſion, and read them two homilies and a theſis of my own compoſing, in order to prepare them.

3. Senses relating to logic, rhetoric, etc. A conjecture, especially one too vague to be formally stated or verified but useful as a working convention.

4. Senses relating to logic, rhetoric, etc. An affirmation, or distinction from a supposition or hypothesis.

5. Senses relating to logic, rhetoric, etc. In the dialectical method of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: the initial stage of reasoning where a formal statement of a point is developed; this is followed by antithesis and synthesis.

6. Senses relating to music and prosody. The action of lowering the hand or bringing down the foot when indicating a rhythm; hence, an accented part of a measure of music or verse indicated by this action; an ictus, a stress.

   Antonyms

   arsis

7. Senses relating to music and prosody. A depression of the voice when pronouncing a syllables of a word; hence, the unstressed part of the metrical foot of a verse upon which such a depression falls, or an unaccented musical note.

   Usage

   • with a reversal of meaning

Noun

1. an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument

   Broader terms

   premisepremissassumption

2. a treatise advancing a new point of view resulting from research; usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree

   Synonyms

   dissertation

   Broader terms

   treatise