DictionaryRoot: sur-
Old French
sur-
over, above, or in addition
Forms
- sur-
- sor- — An older related French form.
Origin
From Latin super, “over or above.”
Note
Being above can extend to excess or addition.
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noun / verb
surmise
ser-MYZE/sərˈmaɪz/
A guess based on incomplete evidence, or to make such a guess.
Etymology
“Put upon” underlies the older meaning “accuse,” or lay a charge upon someone. The noun shifted from an allegation to a thought lacking certain evidence, giving the verb its modern sense of guessing.