Meaning

noun a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations

noun a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena

noun a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence

originRecorded since 1596, from Middle French hypothese, from Late Latin hypothesis, from Ancient Greek ὑπόθεσις (hupóthesis, “base, basis of an argument, supposition”, literally “a placing under”), itself from ὑποτίθημι (hupotíthēmi, “to set before, suggest”), from ὑπό (hupó, “below”) + τίθημι (títhēmi, “to put, place”). Compare hypothec.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0