Hypothesis

Defined in 4 dictionaries — Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Anderson (1889)

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A supposition. See 105 Cal. 335, 38 Pac. 945.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

A supposition, assumption or theory; a thcory set up by the prosecution, on a criminal trial or by the defense, as an explanation of the facts in evidence, and a ground for inferring guilt or innocence, as the case may be or as indicating a probable or possible motive for the crime.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

A supposition, assumption, or theory; a theory set up by the prosecution, ona criminal trial, or by the defense, as an explanation of the facts in evidence, and a ground for inferring guilt or innocence, as the case may be, or as indicating a probable a or possible motive for the crime.

A Dictionary of Law

William C. Anderson · 1889

* In criminal practice, a theory proposed in explanation of the facts in a case, and to establish either guilt or innocence. Hypothetical. Assumed for the purpose of inference or of opinion. An hypothetical case consists of a statement of assumed facts intended to be propounded to an expert, in order to elicit his opinion. Thus, an expert in insanity may say whether a person, under indictment for murder, would be likely to be predisposed to emotional insanity, upon a statement of facts, admitted or assumed, supposed to exhibit his individual and family history. See Dexter v. Ball, Expert. I. I. As an abbreviation, is used for insti> tutes, internal, Irish.