thesis

the·sis

noun \ˈthē-səs, British especially for 1 ˈthe-sis\

plural the·ses \ˈthē-ˌsēz\

Definition of THESIS

1

a (1) : the unstressed part of a poetic foot especially in accentual verse (2) : the longer part of a poetic foot especially in quantitative verse

b : the accented part of a musical measure : downbeat — compare arsis

2

a : a position or proposition that a person (as a candidate for scholastic honors) advances and offers to maintain by argument

b : a proposition to be proved or one advanced without proof : hypothesis

3

: the first and least adequate stage of dialectic — compare synthesis

4

: a dissertation embodying results of original research and especially substantiating a specific view; especially : one written by a candidate for an academic degree

Examples of THESIS

1. She wrote her thesis on Renaissance Nativity scenes.
2. a master's thesis on the effects of global warming
3. New evidence supports his thesis.
4. We disagreed with the basic thesis of the report.
5. The book's central thesis is that propaganda influences the masses in important ways.

Origin of THESIS

in sense 1, Middle English, lowering of the voice, from Late Latin & Greek; Late Latin, from Greek, downbeat, more important part of a foot, literally, act of laying down; in other senses, Latin, from Greek, literally, act of laying down, from tithenai to put, lay down — more at do

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to THESIS

Synonyms

argument, assertion, contention

Related Words

conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, speculation, surmise, theory; proposal, proposition; assumption, presupposition, supposition; position, stand; case, explanation, rationale, reason

Near Antonyms

assurance, certainty, fact, knowledge

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course

Rhymes with THESIS

tmesis