The word "premise" refers to a statement or proposition that an argument is based upon. It serves as a foundation or the groundwork for a conclusion or theory. In logic and philosophy, a premise is often one of the initial statements that lead to a logical conclusion or result.
The word "premise" comes from the Latin term "praemissa," which means "things put before." "Praemissa" itself is from "praemittere," which means "to send before." The term evolved through Middle English before becoming the modern term we use today.