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Guess

//ɡɛs// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A prediction about the outcome of something, typically made without factual evidence or support.

    "If you don't know the answer, take a guess."

  2. 2
    an estimate based on little or no information wordnet
  3. 3
    a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To reach a partly (or totally) unconfirmed conclusion; to engage in conjecture; to speculate.

    "We can only guess at what was going through her mind."

  2. 2
    expect, believe, or suppose wordnet
  3. 3
    To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly.

    "He who guesses the riddle shall have the ring."

  4. 4
    guess correctly; solve by guessing wordnet
  5. 5
    to suppose, to imagine (introducing a proposition of uncertain plausibility). US

    "That album is quite hard to find, but I guess you could try ordering it online."

Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time) wordnet
  2. 7
    To think, conclude, or decide (without a connotation of uncertainty). Usually in first person: "I guess". colloquial

    ""I guess you were right." "What did he say?" "He guesses you were right.""

  3. 8
    put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation wordnet
  4. 9
    To hit upon or reproduce by memory. obsolete

    "Tell me their words, as near as thou canst guess them."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English gessen (verb) and Middle English gesse (noun), probably of North Germanic origin, from Old Danish getse, gitse, getsa (“to guess”), from Old Norse *getsa, *gitsa, from Proto-Germanic *gitisōną (“to guess”), from Proto-Germanic *getaną (“to get”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- (“to take, seize”). Cognate with Danish gisne (“to guess”), Norwegian gissa, gjette (“to guess”), Swedish gissa (“to guess”), Saterland Frisian gisje (“to guess”), Dutch gissen (“to guess”), Low German gissen (“to guess”), Dutch gis (“a guess”). Related also to Icelandic giska ("to guess"; from Proto-Germanic *gitiskōną). Compare also Russian гада́ть (gadátʹ, “to conjecture, guess, divine”), Albanian gjëzë (“riddle”) from gjej (“find, recover, obtain”). More at get.

Etymology 2

From Middle English gessen (verb) and Middle English gesse (noun), probably of North Germanic origin, from Old Danish getse, gitse, getsa (“to guess”), from Old Norse *getsa, *gitsa, from Proto-Germanic *gitisōną (“to guess”), from Proto-Germanic *getaną (“to get”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- (“to take, seize”). Cognate with Danish gisne (“to guess”), Norwegian gissa, gjette (“to guess”), Swedish gissa (“to guess”), Saterland Frisian gisje (“to guess”), Dutch gissen (“to guess”), Low German gissen (“to guess”), Dutch gis (“a guess”). Related also to Icelandic giska ("to guess"; from Proto-Germanic *gitiskōną). Compare also Russian гада́ть (gadátʹ, “to conjecture, guess, divine”), Albanian gjëzë (“riddle”) from gjej (“find, recover, obtain”). More at get.

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