A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena.

Roget 155: attribution, theory, etiology, ascription, reference to, rationale; accounting for etc. v.; palaetiology1, imputation, derivation from.    filiation^†, affiliation; pedigree etc. (paternity) 166.    explanation etc. (interpretation) 522; reason why etc. (cause) 153.    ... show more

Roget 453: idea, notion, conception, thought, apprehension, impression, perception, image, eidolon [Gr.], sentiment, reflection, observation, consideration; abstract idea; archetype, formative notion; guiding conception, organizing conception; image in the mind, regulative principle.    view etc. (opinion) 484; theory etc. 514; conceit, fancy; phantasy etc. (imagination) 515.    point of view etc. (aspect) 448; field of view.    ... show more

Roget 490: knowledge; cognizance, cognition, cognoscence^†; acquaintance, experience, ken [Scot.], privity^†, insight, familiarity; comprehension, apprehension; recognition; appreciation etc. (judgment) 480; intuition; conscience, consciousness; perception, precognition; acroamatics^†.    light, enlightenment; glimpse, inkling; glimmer, glimmering; dawn; scent, suspicion; impression etc. (idea) 453; discovery etc. 480.1. system of knowledge, body of knowledge; science, philosophy, pansophy^†; acroama^†; theory, aetiology^†, etiology; circle of the sciences; pandect^†, doctrine, body of doctrine; cyclopedia, encyclopedia; school etc. (system of opinions) 484.    tree of knowledge; republic of letters etc. (language) 560.    erudition, learning, lore, scholarship, reading, letters; literature; book madness; book learning, bookishness; bibliomania^†, bibliolatry^†; information, general information; store of knowledge &c.; education etc. (teaching) 537; culture, menticulture^†, attainments; acquirements, acquisitions; accomplishments; proficiency; practical knowledge etc. (skill) 698; liberal education; dilettantism; rudiments etc. (beginning) 66.    deep knowledge, profound knowledge, solid knowledge, accurate knowledge, acroatic knowledge^†, acroamatic knowledge^†, vast knowledge, extensive knowledge, encyclopedic knowledge, encyclopedic learning; omniscience, pantology^†.    march of intellect; progress of science, advance of science, advance of learning; schoolmaster abroad.    [person who knows much] scholar etc. 492.    ... show more

Dutch: evangelie, leer, leerstelsel, theorie
Polish: teoria

A tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena:
— A scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory.
— He proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices.

synonyms: hypothesis, possibility.

Roget 514: supposition, assumption, assumed position, postulation, condition, presupposition, hypothesis, blue sky hypothesis, postulate, postulatum [Lat.], theory; thesis, theorem; data; proposition, position; proposal etc. (plan) 626; presumption etc. (belief) 484; divination.    conjecture; guess, guesswork, speculation; rough guess, shot, shot in the dark [Coll.]; conjecturality^†; surmise, suspicion, sneaking suspicion; estimate, approximation (nearness) 197.    inkling, suggestion, hint, intimation, notion, impression; bare supposition, vague supposition, loose supposition, loose suggestion.    association of ideas, (analogy) 514.1; metonym [Gramm.], metonymy [Gramm.], simile (metaphor) 521.    conceit, idea, thought; original idea, invention (imagination) 515.    ... show more

Dutch: stelling, onderstelling, hypothese

A belief that can guide behavior.

Dutch: theorie