Dictionary entry

Premise (2)

Webster's Dictionary 1913

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.

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.