v. & n.
v. 1 tr. (often absol.) estimate without calculation or measurement, or on the basis of inadequate data. 2 tr. (often foll. by that etc. + clause, or to + infin.) form a hypothesis or opinion about; conjecture; think likely (cannot guess how you did it; guess them to be Italian). 3 tr. conjecture or estimate correctly by guessing (you have to guess the weight). 4 intr. (foll. by at) make a conjecture about.
n. an estimate or conjecture reached by guessing. anybody's (or anyone's) guess something very vague or difficult to determine. I guess colloq. I think it likely; I suppose. keep a person guessing colloq. withhold information. guessable adj. guesser n.
[ ME gesse, of uncert. orig.: cf. OSw. gissa, MLG, MDu. gissen: f. the root of GET v. ]