conjecture

1. An opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information.

   synonyms:speculationguess

2. A mathematical proposition that has not yet been proven.

   synonyms:hypothesistheory

The word 'conjecture' comes from the Latin 'conjectura', which means 'to throw together' or 'to interpret from a gathering of evidence'. It has been used in English since the late 14th century.

Primarily used in everyday conversation and academic contexts, particularly in discussions related to science, philosophy, and mathematics.

While not used in everyday conversation by everyone, it is common in academic and intellectual discussions, making it fairly recognizable.

The scientist made a conjecture based on the preliminary data collected from the experiment.

Her conjecture about the missing piece of evidence sparked a lively debate among the detectives.

In mathematics, Fermat's Last Theorem was a conjecture that took over three centuries to prove.

Conjecture is a fascinating word that embodies the spirit of inquiry and exploration. Originating from the Latin term 'conjectura', it reflects the art of piecing together information to form a reasoned guess. Whether in the realms of science or casual conversation, conjectures invite us to delve deeper into the unknown and spark curiosity. It serves as a reminder that not all knowledge is absolute and that sometimes, the best we can do is engage in educated guessing!