Both Uses of
conjecture
in
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
- …the abbe, and actually began the answer; but, on consideration that my writings contain'd a description of experiments which any one might repeat and verify, and if not to be verifi'd, could not be defended; or of observations offer'd as conjectures, and not delivered dogmatically, therefore not laying me under any obligation to defend them; and reflecting that a dispute between two persons, writing in different languages, might be lengthened greatly by mistranslations, and thence…†
- After many conjectures respecting the cause, when we were near another ship almost as dull as ours, which, however, gain'd upon us, the captain ordered all hands to come aft, and stand as near the ensign staff as possible.†
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Definition:
-
(conjecture) a conclusion or opinion based on inconclusive evidence; or the act of forming of such a conclusion or opinioneditor's notes: A conjecture can be widely believed, but the word is also frequently used to imply that evidence is insufficient to support a belief.