I. ˈlemə noun
( plural lemmas -məz ; or lemma·ta -məd.ə)
Etymology: Latin, from Greek lēmma thing received or taken, assumption, from root of lambanein to receive, take, grasp — more at latch
1.
a. : a preliminary or auxiliary proposition or theorem demonstrated or accepted for immediate use in a demonstration of some other proposition
b.
(1) : the premise of a syllogism in early Greek logic
(2) : a major premise of the Stoics
2. : the argument or theme of a composition prefixed as a title or introduction ; also : the heading or theme of a comment or note
3. : a word or phrase glossed in a glossary
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Greek, rind, husk, from lepein to peel — more at leper
: the lower of the two bracts enclosing the flower in the spikelet of grasses — called also flowering glume ; see wild oat illustration