Prem"ise (?), n.; pl.
Premises (&?;). [Written also, less properly,
premiss.] [F. prémisse, fr. L. praemissus,
p. p. of praemittere to send before; prae before +
mittere to send. See Mission.] 1. A
proposition antecedently supposed or proved; something previously
stated or assumed as the basis of further argument; a condition; a
supposition.
The premises observed,
Thy will by my performance shall be served.
Shak.
2. (Logic) Either of the first two
propositions of a syllogism, from which the conclusion is
drawn.
"All sinners deserve punishment: A B is a sinner."
These propositions, which are the premises, being true or
admitted, the conclusion follows, that A B deserves punishment.
While the premises stand firm, it is impossible
to shake the conclusion.
Dr. H. More.
3. pl. (Law) Matters previously
stated or set forth; esp., that part in the beginning of a deed, the
office of which is to express the grantor and grantee, and the land or
thing granted or conveyed, and all that precedes the habendum;
the thing demised or granted.
4. pl. A piece of real estate; a
building and its adjuncts; as, to lease premises; to trespass
on another's premises.
Pre*mise" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Premised (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Premising.] [From L. praemissus, p. p., or E.
premise, n. See Premise, n.]
1. To send before the time, or beforehand; hence,
to cause to be before something else; to employ previously.
[Obs.]
The premised flames of the last
day.
Shak.
If venesection and a cathartic be
premised.
E. Darwin.
2. To set forth beforehand, or as introductory
to the main subject; to offer previously, as something to explain or
aid in understanding what follows; especially, to lay down premises or
first propositions, on which rest the subsequent reasonings.
I premise these particulars that the reader may
know that I enter upon it as a very ungrateful task.
Addison.
Pre*mise" (?), v. i. To make a
premise; to set forth something as a premise. Swift.
