n. In logic:n. In the Stoical logicn. The major premise of a hypothetical syllogism, or modus ponens: thus, in the reasoning, “If it is day, it is light; but it is day: hence, it is light,” the first premise was called the lemma.n. A premise in general.n. A Megaric sophism depending on the question whether a man who says “I am lying” is truly lying or not.n. In mathematics, a proposition upon which it is necessary to arrest the attention for the sake of proving an ulterior one, but which interrupts the regular series of theorems; also, a premise drawn from another branch of mathematics than that under consideration.n. A theme; a thesis; the subject of an epigram, or of a musical composition, etc.n. In embryology, the primary or outer layer of the germinal vesicle. Pascoe.