英文字典中文字典Word104.com

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Guess \Guess\ (g[e^]s), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Guessed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Guessing}.] [OE. gessen; akin to Dan. gisse, Sw.
gissa, Icel. gizha, D. gissen: cf. Dan. giette to guess,
Icel. geta to get, to guess. Probably originally, to try to
get, and akin to E. get. See {Get}.]
1. To form an opinion concerning, without knowledge or means
of knowledge; to judge of at random; to conjecture.
[1913 Webster]

First, if thou canst, the harder reason guess.
--Pope.
[1913 Webster]

2. To judge or form an opinion of, from reasons that seem
preponderating, but are not decisive.
[1913 Webster]

We may then guess how far it was from his design.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]

Of ambushed men, whom, by their arms and dress,
To be Taxallan enemies I guess. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]

3. To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly;
as, he who guesses the riddle shall have the ring; he has
guessed my designs.
[1913 Webster]

4. To hit upon or reproduce by memory. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]

Tell me their words, as near as thou canst guess
them. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

5. To think; to suppose; to believe; to imagine; -- followed
by an objective clause.
[1913 Webster]

Not all together; better far, I guess,
That we do make our entrance several ways. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

But in known images of life I guess
The labor greater. --Pope.

Syn: To conjecture; suppose; surmise; suspect; divine; think;
imagine; fancy.

Usage: {To Guess}, {Think}, {Reckon}. Guess denotes, to
attempt to hit upon at random; as, to guess at a thing
when blindfolded; to conjecture or form an opinion on
hidden or very slight grounds: as, to guess a riddle;
to guess out the meaning of an obscure passage. The
use of the word guess for think or believe, although
abundantly sanctioned by good English authors, is now
regarded as antiquated and objectionable by
discriminating writers. It may properly be branded as
a colloguialism and vulgarism when used respecting a
purpose or a thing about which there is no
uncertainty; as, I guess I 'll go to bed.
[1913 Webster]


Guess \Guess\, v. i.
To make a guess or random judgment; to conjecture; -- with
at, about, etc.
[1913 Webster]

This is the place, as well as I may guess. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]


Guess \Guess\, n.
An opinion as to anything, formed without sufficient or
decisive evidence or grounds; an attempt to hit upon the
truth by a random judgment; a conjecture; a surmise.
[1913 Webster]

A poet must confess
His art 's like physic -- but a happy guess. --Dryden.
[1913 Webster]