hypotheses
 假說
 Hy·poth·e·sis n.; pl. Hypotheses
 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.
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 hypothesis
      n 1: a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations
      2: a tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that
         is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain
         facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives
         experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he
         proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted
         in chemical practices" [syn: possibility, theory]
      3: a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
         [syn: guess, conjecture, supposition, surmise, surmisal,
          speculation]
      [also: hypotheses (pl)]
 hypotheses
      See hypothesis