ˈthēsə̇s, in sense 3 “ or ˈthes- noun
( plural the·ses -(ˌ)sēz)
Etymology: Latin, from Greek, act of placing, act of laying down, position, proposition, downbeat of the foot in keeping time, from tithenai to put, place, lay down — more at do
1.
a. : a claim put forward : statement , proposition ; specifically : a position or proposition that a person (as a candidate for scholastic honors) advances and maintains or offers to maintain by argument
b. : an affirmation or proposition to be proved or one advanced without proof especially in contrast with a negation: as
(1) : the proposition or point of view defended by an argument
(2) : assumption , postulate
(3) : the consequent of a hypothetical proposition
(4) Kantianism : the affirmative member of one of the antinomies or paradoxes of reason
(5) Hegelianism : the proposition or conception representing the first and least adequate stage of developing thought — compare antithesis , synthesis
2. : a dissertation embodying results of original research and especially substantiating a specific view: as
a. : a substantial paper written by a candidate for an academic degree under the individual direction of a professor
b. : a paper written by an undergraduate desirous of achieving honors or distinction
3.
a.
(1)
[Late Latin, from Greek, act of placing; from the lowering of the voice]
: the lighter or unstressed part of a poetic foot especially in accentual verse
(2) : the heavier or longer part of a poetic foot especially in quantitative verse
b. : the accented part of a musical measure : downbeat — compare arsis
Synonyms: see discourse