What is the meaning of premise?

noun

• A statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn.
  • usage: "on the assumption that he has been injured we can infer that he will not to play"
  • synonyms: premiss, assumption

verb

• Set forth beforehand, often as an explanation.
  • usage: "He premised these remarks so that his readers might understand"
• Furnish with a preface or introduction.
  • usage: "She always precedes her lectures with a joke"; "He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution"
  • synonyms: precede, preface, introduce
• Take something as preexisting and given.
  • synonyms: premiss