thesis
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈθiːsɪs/
ipa: /ˈθɛsɪs/
ipa: /ˈθisɪs/
rhymes: -iːsɪs
ipa: /ˈθiːsiːz/
ipa: /ˈθisiz/
rhymes: -iːsiːz
Forms: form: theses
Etymology: From Late Middle English thesis (“lowering of the voice”) and also borrowed directly from its etymon Latin thesis (“proposition, thesis; lowering of the voice”), from Ancient Greek θέσῐς (thésĭs, “arrangement, placement, setting; conclusion, position, thesis; lowering of the voice”), from τῐ́θημῐ (tĭ́thēmĭ, “to place, put, set; to put down in writing; to consider as, regard”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- (“to do; to place, put”)) + -σῐς (-sĭs, suffix forming abstract nouns or nouns of action, process, or result). The English word is a doublet of deed.
Sense 1.1 (“proposition or statement supported by arguments”) is adopted from antithesis. Sense 1.4 (“initial stage of reasoning”) was first used by the German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762–1814), and later applied to the dialectical method of his countryman, the philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831).
The plural form theses is borrowed from Latin thesēs, from Ancient Greek θέσεις (théseis).
Senses: examples: text: 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.
ref: 2025 September 30, Larry Sanger, “Nine Theses on Wikipedia”, in larrysanger.org:
glosses: Senses relating to logic, rhetoric, etc.
A proposition or statement supported by arguments.
examples: text: 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.
ref: 1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], “The Conclusion”, in The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volume II, Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC, pages 218–219:
glosses: 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.
topics: computer
computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
science
sciences
glosses: Senses relating to logic, rhetoric, etc.
A conjecture, especially one too vague to be formally stated or verified but useful as a working convention.
topics: human-sciences
logic
mathematics
philosophy
sciences
glosses: Senses relating to logic, rhetoric, etc.
An affirmation, or distinction from a supposition or hypothesis.
topics: human-sciences
philosophy
sciences
glosses: 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.
topics: entertainment
human-sciences
lifestyle
linguistics
music
phonology
prosody
sciences
glosses: 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
qualifier: originally
topics: entertainment
human-sciences
lifestyle
linguistics
music
phonology
prosody
sciences
glosses: 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.
raw_tags: with a reversal of meaning
Derived terms: all but thesis
bachelor's thesis
blue water thesis
Church-Turing thesis
conflict thesis
doctoral thesis
e-thesis
graduate thesis
Habakkuk thesis
master's thesis
Merton thesis
private language thesis
Rothbarth-Habakkuk thesis
thesis defense
thesis statement
Related terms: antithesis
apothesis
enthesis
hypothesis
nonthetic
prosthesis
prothesis
synthesis
thetic
thetically