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A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved. "The thesis was published in an academic journal and received widespread recognition."
The thesis is typically a central idea or argument that is developed and presented in a written work, such as a dissertation or research paper. In higher education, a thesis is often a requirement for a graduate degree, such as a Master's or a PhD. The thesis is usually written under the supervision of a thesis advisor or mentor, and it presents original research or an original interpretation of existing research on a specific topic. The main purpose of a thesis is to contribute new knowledge and understanding to the field of study. It must be based on a rigorous research, the results must be presented in a logical and coherent manner and it must be written in a scholarly manner. Additionally, the thesis should demonstrate the student's ability to conduct independent research, to critically evaluate the existing literature, and to communicate their ideas effectively.
1. Her thesis on renewable energy proposed innovative solutions for sustainability. 2. The professor praised the clarity of his student's thesis on social inequality. 3. The thesis of his argument was that technology enhances human communication. 4. The thesis of the book challenged conventional wisdom on economic policy. 5. Grad students often spend years researching and writing their theses. 6. The thesis behind the research project aimed to address pressing health issues.
The noun ' thesis ' has its etymological roots in ancient Greek. It is derived from the Greek word 'θέσις' (thésis), which means 'a setting down' or 'a position.' In the context of ancient Greece, ' thesis ' was used to refer to a proposition or statement that was put forward as the basis of an argument or discussion. It represented a foundational idea or premise that was to be maintained or proved through reasoning and evidence. As the term entered the English language, it retained this fundamental sense and is now commonly used to describe a statement or theory that serves as the central point of an argument or research project. It embodies the concept of a position or assertion that is presented for examination and verification. Therefore, the etymology of ' thesis ' underscores its use as a noun to denote a statement or theory set forth as a premise to be upheld or substantiated.
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1. She defended her thesis before a panel of expert examiners. 2. The conference featured presentations on a wide range of academic theses. 3. His groundbreaking thesis reshaped the field of quantum physics. 4. The thesis statement should encapsulate the main argument of your essay. 5. The thesis explored the intersection of art, culture, and identity in society. 6. The professor praised the student's thesis for its originality and depth. 7. His thesis explored the intersection of psychology and literature. 8. The defense of her thesis was a nerve-wracking but rewarding experience. 9. The thesis statement succinctly summarized the main argument of the paper. 10. The committee members engaged in a lively debate about the merits of the thesis . 11. The thesis proposed a new framework for understanding economic inequality. 12. After hours of editing, her thesis was finally ready for submission. 13. The library had an extensive collection of theses from various academic fields. 14. He was awarded a scholarship for his outstanding thesis on urban planning. 15. The thesis challenged existing theories and presented a fresh perspective. 16. The thesis project required extensive fieldwork and data analysis. 17. Her thesis was published in a reputable journal, gaining widespread recognition. 18. The thesis defense was attended by faculty members, peers, and family. 19. The thesis examined the historical context of the Renaissance art movement. 20. The graduate student presented her thesis findings at an international conference. 21. The thesis highlighted the need for further research in the field of genetics. 22. The thesis concluded with a call to action for policy changes in healthcare. 23. The advisor provided valuable guidance throughout the thesis writing process. 24. The thesis was a culmination of years of research and academic dedication.
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idea,proposal,subject
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proposition, fact, certainty, proof
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argument,assertion,hypothesis,postulate,proposition,supposition
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There are seven meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun thesis . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
thesis has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
1750 | 1.6 |
1760 | 1.8 |
1770 | 2.6 |
1780 | 1.9 |
1790 | 1.7 |
1800 | 1.9 |
1810 | 1.4 |
1820 | 1.3 |
1830 | 1.3 |
1840 | 1.8 |
1850 | 2.0 |
1860 | 1.8 |
1870 | 2.6 |
1880 | 2.9 |
1890 | 3.7 |
1900 | 4.2 |
1910 | 5.7 |
1920 | 8.2 |
1930 | 13 |
1940 | 15 |
1950 | 19 |
1960 | 24 |
1970 | 27 |
1980 | 27 |
1990 | 25 |
2000 | 23 |
2010 | 23 |
British english, u.s. english, where does the noun thesis come from.
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the noun thesis is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for thesis is from before 1398, in a translation by John Trevisa, translator.
thesis is a borrowing from Greek.
Etymons: Greek θέσις .
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Pronunciation, compounds & derived words, entry history for thesis, n..
thesis, n. was first published in 1912; not yet revised.
thesis, n. was last modified in December 2023.
Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:
Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into thesis, n. in December 2023.
Earlier versions of this entry were published in:
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Other forms: theses
A thesis is the most important or foundational idea of an argument. If the thesis of your paper is that chocolate ice cream is better than vanilla, you'll need to back that up with plenty of sundae-based research.
The noun thesis has more than one important sense to it. One definition of thesis is that it is the most important or foundational idea of an argument, presentation, or piece of writing. But it can also mean a large work of art, criticism, or scientific research that represents original research and is generally the final requirement for an academic degree.
A thorough survey of various textbooks, assignments, content area standards, and examinations yields the following list of words compiled by Jim Burke . You cannot expect to succeed on assignments if you do not understand the directions.
Persuade yourself to study this list of words related to argumentative writing. You'll learn all about making claims, supporting arguments with evidence, and maintaining an objective tone. It's no fallacy that reviewing these words will improve your credibility as a writer.
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(th s s) (-s z) A proposition that is maintained by argument. A dissertation advancing an original point of view as a result of research, especially as a requirement for an academic degree. A hypothetical proposition, especially one put forth without proof. The first stage of the Hegelian dialectic process. The long or accented part of a metrical foot, especially in quantitative verse. The unaccented or short part of a metrical foot, especially in accentual verse. The accented section of a measure. Greek, from , to put; see dh - . Senses 5 and 6, Middle English, from Late Latin, lowering of the voice, from Greek, downbeat.] |
Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:
Indo-European Roots
Semitic Roots
The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots .
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Published on 13 September 2023 by Kassiani Nikolopoulou .
A root word is the most basic form of a word that cannot be further divided into meaningful segments. Root words are used to form new words by adding letters at the beginning (i.e., a prefix) and/or the end (i.e., a suffix).
For example, the word “unfaithful” is made up of these different parts:
prefix root word suffix
By adding a suffix and/or a prefix to a root word like “faith”, we can make other words such as “faithful”, “faithfully”, “unfaithful”, and “unfaithfully”. These words are linked both in terms of spelling and meaning and are called a word family .
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What are root words, example root words, latin root words (free downloadable list), greek root words (free downloadable list), worksheet: root words, frequently asked questions about root words.
A root word is the fundamental unit of a word. A root word has nothing added at the beginning or the end. While some root words are standalone words in English, others need a prefix (like “anti-” or “un-”) and/or a suffix (like “-able” or “-ist”) to create a meaningful word.
For example, “cede” is a root word for other words like “recede” or “precedent”, but it is also a word on its own (meaning “to give up”). On the other hand, the root word “struct” does not constitute an understandable word in itself and other letters need to be added for it to make sense (e.g, “instructor”, “destruction”, “structural”).
Many words are created from Latin or Greek root words and usually cannot function as standalone words in English. For example, “chrono” comes from Greek and is the root of words like “chronology”, “synchronise”, and “chronic”, but it’s not a separate word in English.
Learning about root words can help you work out the meaning of new or longer words. When you know how to decode unknown words by identifying their root words and affixes (i.e., the prefix or suffix attached to them), you can navigate more complex or specialised texts. For example, many root words derived from Latin and Greek are common in math and science terminology, like “centi” (“hundred”) or “geo” (“earth”).
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Some root words can be used independently, while others need to be combined with a prefix (i.e., letters at the beginning), a suffix (i.e., letters at the end) or another root word (e.g., -logue) to form a standalone word.
act | to do | react, action, activity |
centr/o/i | center | eccentric, egocentric, centrifuge |
cycl | circle | cycle, bicycle, encyclopedia |
domin | master | domineering, dominate, dominant |
ego | I ( singular) | egomaniac, egotistic, superego |
employ | apply/make use of | unemployment, employee, disemploy |
form | shape | uniform, formality, information |
friend | friend | unfriendly, befriend, friendship |
norm | a carpenter’s square/ a pattern | abnormal, enormous, normalise |
note | comment upon | keynote, denote, connotation |
place | spot | misplaced, displaced, workplace |
use | take or hold | user, useless, misuse |
The terms root words and base words are often used interchangeably. However, they are not exactly the same. While root words cannot always be used as standalone words in English, base words can be used on their own or combined with other words or letters to create complex words.
For example, “code” is a base word that can be used independently or to create other words like “barcode”, “decode”, or “codify”. On the other hand, the root word “aud” (which comes from Latin) cannot be used by itself and has to be combined with other letters to form words like “auditorium”, “audition”, and “audible”. Because many root words are of Latin or Greek origin, they don’t make sense as independent words in English.
Sometimes, root words and base words overlap. For example, the word “act” is a root word of Latin origin, but also a standalone word in English. By adding a prefix or suffix, we get new words like “reaction”, “exact”, and “actor”. In this case, “act” is both a root word and a base word.
Below is a list containing common Latin root words, their meaning, and examples of words based on each root. You can also download this list in the format of your choice below.
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anim(a) | breath or soul | animate, animal, unanimous |
aqua | water | aquarium, aquatic, aquamarine |
aud | to hear/listen | audio, inaudible, audition |
bene | good | benefactor, benefit, benign |
brev | short | abbreviation, brevity, brief |
cand/cend | to glow/shine | incandescent, candid, candidate |
carn | meat or flesh | carnivorous, carnage, reincarnation |
cred | to believe/trust | incredible, credentials, creed |
dict/dic | to say | dictionary, diction, dedicate |
doc | to teach | doctrine, docile, document |
don | to give/grant | donor, condone, pardon |
duce/duct | to lead | deduce, induction, produce |
hospit | host, guest | hospital, inhospitable, hostess |
jur/jus | law/right/oath | conjure, jurisdiction, justice |
libr | book | library, libretto, librarian |
luc/lum | brightness/clarity | elucidate, lucid, illuminate |
magn | great/large | magnanimous, magnificent, magnifying |
manu | hand | manuscript, manicure, manipulate |
pac | peace | Pacific, pacifier, pacifist |
port | to carry | export, import, reporter |
scrib/script | to write | describe, script, nondescript |
sens | to feel | sense, consensus, desensitise |
terr | earth | terrain, territory, extraterrestrial |
vac | empty | evacuate, vacancy, vacuum |
vis/vid | to see | invisible, video, evidence |
Below is a list containing common Greek root words, their meaning, and examples of words based on each root. You can also download this list in the format of your choice below.
aero | air | aerodynamic, aeronautics, aerobic |
aesthet | related to the senses | aesthetic, anesthetic, anesthesia |
anthrop | human | anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropist |
astro/aster | star | astronomy, astronaut, asteroid |
auto | self | automatic, autobiography, autofocus |
biblio | book | bibliography, bible, bibliophile |
bio | life | biology, biography, symbiosis |
chrome | color | monochrome, chromosome, chromatic |
chrono | time | chronicle, chronological, synchronise |
cosm(o) | world/universe | cosmology, cosmopolitan, microcosm |
dyn | power | dynamic, dynamite, electrodynamics |
gnos | know | diagnosis, prognosticate, agnostic |
graph | write | telegraph, calligraphy, geography |
hydr | water | hydrogen, hydration, dehydrate |
logy | study | epistemology, ecology, trilogy |
mania | frenzy | mania, megalomaniac, egomania |
melan | black | melatonin, melamin, melancholy |
metr/meter | measure | metric, asymmetry, diameter |
narc | numbness/sleep | narcotic, narcolepsy, narcosis |
paleo | old | paleontology, Paleolithic, paleobotany |
phon | sound/voice | microphone, telephone, symphony |
photo | light | photograph, photon, photocopy |
psych | soul/spirit | psychology, psychiatrist, psychic |
rhe | flow | rhythm, rheology, diarrhea |
schem | shape/manner | scheme, schematic, schemer |
therm | heat | hypothermia, thermometer, thermostat |
Base words can stand alone, but can also be combined with other letters to create new words.
act | transaction |
appear | disappear |
break | unbreakable |
care | careful |
color | discolored |
do | undo |
harm | harmful |
honest | honestly |
hope | hopeless |
kind | kindness |
like | dislike |
love | beloved |
mark | unmarked |
pack | unpack |
paint | repainted |
place | displacement |
play | downplay |
reason | unreasonable |
spell | spellbound |
worth | worthless |
Want to test your understanding of root words? Try the worksheet below. In each sentence, see if you can identify the root word(s) of the highlighted word.
Although there is no particular rule for finding the root of a word, one way to do this is to check if the word has any affixes (suffix and/or prefix) added to it.
For example, the word “hyperactive” has the prefix “hyper-” (meaning “over”) and the suffix “-ive” (meaning “having the nature of”). If we remove the affixes, we get the root word (“act”).
The root word “dorm” means “sleep” in Latin. So words with this root word will have a meaning related to sleep. For example, the words “dormant,” “dormitory,” and “dormouse” all come from the same root word.
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Nikolopoulou, K. (2023, September 13). Root Words | Definition, List & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 11 June 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/english-language/root-word/
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Definition of thesis noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
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thesis. (n.). late 14c., "unaccented syllable or note, a lowering of the voice in music," from Latin thesis "unaccented syllable in poetry," later (and more correctly) "stressed part of a metrical foot," from Greek thesis "a proposition," also "downbeat" (in music), originally "a setting down, a placing, an arranging; position, situation" (from reduplicated form of PIE root *dhe-"to set, put").
The meaning of THESIS is a dissertation embodying results of original research and especially substantiating a specific view; especially : one written by a candidate for an academic degree. How to use thesis in a sentence. Did you know?
Thesis definition: a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections. See examples of THESIS used in a sentence.
Noun [ edit] thesis (plural theses) ( rhetoric) A proposition or statement supported by arguments. (by extension) 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 .
The noun 'thesis' has its etymological roots in ancient Greek.It is derived from the Greek word 'θέσις' (thésis), which means 'a setting down' or 'a position.' In the context of ancient Greece, 'thesis' was used to refer to a proposition or statement that was put forward as the basis of an argument or discussion.It represented a foundational idea or premise that was to be maintained or ...
corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates; new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates. Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into thesis, n. in March 2024.
thesis: 1 n an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument Type of: assumption , premise , premiss a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn n a treatise advancing a new point of view resulting from research; usually a requirement for an advanced academic degree Synonyms: dissertation Type ...
thesis (that…) a statement or an opinion that is discussed in a logical way and presented with evidence in order to prove that it is true. The basic thesis of the book is fairly simple. These latest findings support the thesis that sexuality is determined by nature rather than choice.
THESIS definition: 1. a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done for a higher…. Learn more.
Thesis definition: a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections. See examples of THESIS used in a sentence.
The online etymology dictionary (etymonline) is the internet's go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible enough to be used by anyone.
THESIS meaning: 1. a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done for a higher…. Learn more.
the·sis (th ē s ĭ s) Share: Tweet. n. pl. the·ses (-s ē z) 1. A proposition that is maintained by argument. 2. A dissertation advancing an original point of view as a result of research, especially as a requirement for an academic degree. 3. A hypothetical proposition, especially one put forth without proof.
Thesis definition: A proposition that is maintained by argument. A proposition maintained or defended in argument, formerly one publicly disputed by a candidate for a degree in a medieval university.
7 meanings: 1. a dissertation resulting from original research, esp when submitted by a candidate for a degree or diploma 2. a.... Click for more definitions.
plural theses / ˈθiːˌsiːz/. Britannica Dictionary definition of THESIS. [count] 1. : a long piece of writing on a particular subject that is done to earn a degree at a university. She wrote her thesis on Renaissance Nativity scenes. a master's/doctoral thesis on the effects of global warming. 2. formal : a statement that someone wants to ...
A root word is the fundamental unit of a word. A root word has nothing added at the beginning or the end. While some root words are standalone words in English, others need a prefix (like "anti-" or "un-") and/or a suffix (like "-able" or "-ist") to create a meaningful word.
Definition of thesis noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
It's an interesting thesis, but you haven't provided enough evidence to convince me of its validity.Martin Luther put forward the thesis that one can achieve one's own salvation without the intermediary of a priest. synonyms: exposition, premise, proposition similar words: argument, hypothesis, statement, theorem, theory: definition 2:
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to line up." It forms all or part of: assert; ... "unaccented syllable or note," from Latin thesis "unaccented syllable in poetry," later (and more correctly) "stressed part of a metrical foot," from Greek thesis "a proposition," also "downbeat" (in music), originally "a setting down, a placing, an arranging ...
thesis in American English. (ˈθisɪs) noun Word forms: plural -ses (-siz) 1. a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, esp. one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections. He vigorously defended his thesis on the causes of war. 2. a subject for a composition or essay. 3.
Thesis. A position taken in a argument supported by a set of reasons. Theme. An essay or composition on a certain subject with a statement and supporting reasons. Parenthesis. (Para - beside) - statement beside (or inside) a main sentence. Synthetic. (Syn-Together) elements put together to make a material like a natural one (synthetic rubber ...