/ kənˈdʒektʃə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun ( formal )
1.
[ C ] an opinion or idea that is not based on definite knowledge and is formed by guessing
SYN guess :
The truth of his conjecture was confirmed by the newspaper report.
2.
[ U ] the forming of an opinion or idea that is not based on definite knowledge
SYN guess :
What was going through the killer's mind is a matter for conjecture.
► con·jec·tural / kənˈdʒektʃərəl; NAmE / adjective
■ verb
( formal ) to form an opinion about sth even though you do not have much information on it
SYN guess :
[ v ]
We can only conjecture about what was in the killer's mind.
[ v that ]
He conjectured that the population might double in ten years.
[ vn ]
She conjectured the existence of a completely new species.
[also v wh- , vn to inf ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the senses to divine and divination ): from Old French , or from Latin conjectura , from conicere put together in thought, from con- together + jacere throw.