theses

Noun

thesis (plural theses)

1. (rhetoric) A proposition or statement supported by arguments.
   • 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.2025 September 30, Larry Sanger, “Nine Theses on Wikipedia”, in larrysanger.org
2. (broadly) 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.
   • 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.1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], “The Conclusion”, in The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volume II, Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC, pages 218–219
3. A conjecture, especially one too vague to be formally stated or verified but useful as a working convention.
4. An affirmation, or distinction from a supposition or hypothesis.
5. 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.
6. (originally) 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

See all 7 meanings of thesis