Also 5–6 -our(e. [a. F. conjecture, or its original L. conjectūra, a throwing or casting together, a conclusion derived from comparison of facts, an inference, conclusion, guess, etc., f. conject- ppl. stem of conjicĕre, conicĕre to throw together: see -URE.]
† 1. The interpretation of signs or omens; interpretation of dreams; divining; a conclusion as to coming events drawn from signs or omens; a forecast, a prognostication. Obs.
1382. Wyclif, Dan. ii. 6. Ȝij ȝe shuln telle the sweuen and the coniecture therof [Vulg. coniecturam ejus].
c. 1546. Langley, Pol. Verg. De Invent., I. xix. 34 b. A certaine prophet commaunded euery man to stande stil til he had taken a coniecture of the birde that flowe by.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 230. To give conjectures of mens conditions and fortune by their countenaunces.
1586. Hyll, Garden., Title-p., The yerely coniectures meete for Husbandmen.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 333. Out they went together, to make conjecture of the thiefe by augury.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 123. To cast Ominous conjecture on the whole success.
1697. Potter, Antiq. Greece, II. xiii. (1715), 312. The Signs by which they made Conjectures.
† 2. Conclusion as to facts drawn from appearances or indications. Obs.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Clerk’s T., 349. By conjecture Hem thought sche was another creature.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 346. It is sothe, thoughe men by conjecture Of resoun … it ne kan determyne.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 1874. More lyke an angell by all coniecture Than a fragyll mayde.
† 3. The supposing or putting of an imaginary case; supposition. (Cf. CONJECT v. 1 c.) Obs. rare.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., ix. (1885), 128. We nede in this case to vse coniecture and ymaginacion, as to thynk that þer is no lordis livelod in Englond sufficient [etc.].
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. Prol. 1. Now entertaine coniecture of a time, When creeping Murmure … Fills … the Vniuerse.
4. The formation or offering of an opinion on grounds insufficient to furnish proof; the action or habit of guessing or surmising; conclusion as to what is likely or probable. In textual criticism, the proposal of a reading not actually found in the traditional text. † Formerly sometimes in a bad sense: Suspicion, evil surmise.
1535. Joye, Apol. Tindale, 25. Tindale accuseth … me of coniecture and temerariouse iugement.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 10. Out of these things thus alledged, I might (as me thinketh) draw probable conjecture.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. i. 107. And on my eie-lids shall Coniecture hang, To turne all beauty into thoughts of harme.
1608. Norden, Surv. Dial., 1. Speake you this by conjecture … or by due experience of your owne?
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl. (1675), 30. But this is only conjecture; and whether it be true or no, [etc.].
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot., I. I. 4. The region of pure fable and conjecture.
1768. Johnson, Pref. to Shaks., Wks. IX. 292. Of these [passages] the restoration is only to be attempted by collation of copies, or sagacity of conjecture.
1841. Borrow, Zincali, II. 105. Always ready to have recourse to conjecture and guess-work.
1865. Conington, Virgil, I. Pref. to ed. 2. The more important MSS. … supply each other’s defects … The need of critical conjecture is almost wholly removed.
1878. Lecky, Eng. in 18th C., II. vii. 277. It is probable that this report … rests largely on conjecture.
b. Absorption of mind in conjecturing; puzzlement.
1815. Mrs. Pilkington, Celebrity, I. 199. Her inquietude became less violent, though her conjecture was increased. Ibid., II. 233. He was so completely lost in conjecture.
5. (with a and pl.) An opinion offered on insufficient presumptive evidence; an unverified supposition put forth to account for something. In textual criticism, a proposed emendation of a text.
1527. R. Thorne, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 256. By all coniectures of reason.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1865), 17. This ys a mere conjecture, and of no valydytye.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 292. Dreams, Conjectures, fancies, built on nothing firm.
1768. Johnson, Pref. to Shaks., Wks. IX. 284. Perverse interpretations, and … improbable conjectures.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, Varieties of Man, 196. Men have so long mistaken their conjectures concerning facts, for facts themselves.
1863. Conington, Virgil, II. Pref. In several places he [Ribbeck] has introduced emendations into the text, generally conjectures of his own.
1874. Green, Short Hist., v. 213. In spite of a thousand conjectures, we know little of the life of our first great poet.
† b. An evil surmise or suspicion. Obs.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 1599. Ioseph … there was inprysoned by a false coniectour.
1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretarie, II. (1625), 15. To satisfie you, and … to expell those causelesse conjectures of him.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. v. 14. She may strew dangerous coniectures In ill breeding minds.
1692. Dryden, St. Evremont’s Ess., 110. You would be ruined by the Malice of his Conjectures.
† 6. A ground or reason for conclusion (not amounting to demonstration). Obs.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 287. [They] may haue a great coniecture of grace.
1533. More, Debell. Salem, Wks. 1012/1. I … had and yet haue very good coniectures to put lyttle doubte therin.
1555. Eden, Decades, 33. Whiche thynge they suspected by a thousand coniectures.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Hydriot., Introd. (1736), 4. Whether the ancient Germans … held any such Fear … we have no authentic Conjecture.
† 7. A device, contrivance; esp. for an evil purpose; a plot, conspiracy. Obs. (Cf. CONJECT v. 3.)
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 246. The Kyng taried … in Walis, tyl, as he supposed, the lordes conjecture was sesed.
c. 1475. Partenay, Prol. 100. Which … Ful wel lernid were in knightly coniectures.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., V. cxii. 86. Fredegunde entendyng to make a douorce atwene Chilperich and his wyfe by his subtile and false coniectour.
