Premise

1. noun

   a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn

   “on the assumption that he has been injured we can infer that he will not to play”

   Similar: premiss, assumption

2. verb

   set forth beforehand, often as an explanation

   “He premised these remarks so that his readers might understand”

3. verb

   take something as preexisting and given

   Similar: premiss

4. verb

   furnish with a preface or introduction

   “She always precedes her lectures with a joke”

   Similar: precede, preface, introduce