The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hypothetic \Hy`po*thet"ic\, Hypothetical \Hy`po*thet"ic*al\, a. Characterized by, or of the nature of, an hypothesis; conditional; assumed without proof, for the purpose of reasoning and deducing proof, or of accounting for some fact or phenomenon.
Causes hypothetical at least, if not real, for the
various phenomena of the existence of which our
experience informs us.
--Sir W.
Hamilton.
Hypothetical baptism (Ch. of Eng.), baptism administered to
persons in respect to whom it is doubtful whether they
have or have not been baptized before.
--Hook. --
Hy`po*thet"ic*al*ly, adv.
--South.
Wiktionary
a. 1 based on hypothesis or theory; hypothetical 2 existing as an abstract concept rather than a concrete reality alt. 1 based on hypothesis or theory; hypothetical 2 existing as an abstract concept rather than a concrete reality
WordNet
adj. based on hypothesis; "a hypothetical situation"; "the site of a hypothetical colony" [syn: hypothetical]
Usage examples of "hypothetic".
If it be true that the iron masses were thus imbedded, like plums in an astral pudding, the hypothetic buried star might have great size and yet only small power to attract the magnetic needle.
She framed a great deal of hypothetic gossip, invented theories and explanations—generally of the most charitable quality.
He had a horrible conviction that behind all this hypothetic statement there was a knowledge of some actual change in Mary's feeling.