Surmise vs. Deduce: What's the Difference?
Surmise and Deduce Definitions
Surmise
To make a judgment about (something) without sufficient evidence; guess
"In another pocket he came across what he surmised in the dark were pennies, erroneously, however, as it turned out" (James Joyce).
Deduce
To reach (a conclusion) by reasoning.
Surmise
To say (something) as a guess or conjecture.
Deduce
To infer from a general principle; reason deductively
Deduced from the laws of physics that the new airplane would fly.
Surmise
To make a guess or conjecture.
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Deduce
To trace the origin or derivation of.
Surmise
An idea or opinion based on insufficiently conclusive evidence; a conjecture.
Deduce
(transitive) To reach (a conclusion) by applying rules of logic or other forms of reasoning to given premises or known facts.
Surmise
Thought, imagination, or conjecture, which may be based upon feeble or scanty evidence; suspicion; guess.
Surmises of jealousy or of envy
This opinion, however, is merely a surmise, which may or may not be the case.
Deduce
(transitive) To examine, explain, or record (something) in an orderly manner.
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Surmise
Reflection; thought; posit.
Deduce
To obtain (something) from some source; to derive.
Surmise
To imagine or suspect; to conjecture; to posit with contestable premises.
If, as I surmise, you see the ladies this evening, you might mention my intended visit.
Deduce
To be derived or obtained from some source.
Surmise
A thought, imagination, or conjecture, which is based upon feeble or scanty evidence; suspicion; guess; as, the surmisses of jealousy or of envy.
[We] double honor gainFrom his surmise proved false.
No man ought to be charged with principles he actually disowns, unless his practicies contradict his profession; not upon small surmises.
Deduce
To take away (something); to deduct, to subtract (something).
To deduce a part from the whole
Surmise
Reflection; thought.
Deduce
To lead (something) forth.
Surmise
To imagine without certain knowledge; to infer on slight grounds; to suppose, conjecture, or suspect; to guess.
It wafted nearer yet, and then she knewThat what before she but surmised, was true.
This change was not wrought by altering the form or position of the earth, as was surmised by a very learned man, but by dissolving it.
Deduce
To lead forth.
He should hither deduce a colony.
Surmise
A message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
Deduce
To take away; to deduct; to subtract; as, to deduce a part from the whole.
Surmise
Infer from incomplete evidence
Deduce
To derive or draw; to derive by logical process; to obtain or arrive at as the result of reasoning; to gather, as a truth or opinion, from what precedes or from premises; to infer; - with from or out of.
O goddess, say, shall I deduce my rhymesFrom the dire nation in its early times?
Reasoning is nothing but the faculty of deducing unknown truths from principles already known.
See what regard will be paid to the pedigree which deduces your descent from kings and conquerors.
Surmise
Imagine to be the case or true or probable;
I suspect he is a fugitive
I surmised that the butler did it
Deduce
Reason by deduction; establish by deduction
Deduce
Conclude by reasoning; in logic
