Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Premise \Pre*mise"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Premised}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Premising}.] [From L. praemissus, p. p., or E.
   premise, n. See {Premise}, n.]
   1. To send before the time, or beforehand; hence, to cause to
      be before something else; to employ previously. [Obs.]

            The premised flames of the last day.  --Shak.

            If venesection and a cathartic be premised. --E.
                                                  Darwin.

   2. To set forth beforehand, or as introductory to the main
      subject; to offer previously, as something to explain or
      aid in understanding what follows; especially, to lay down
      premises or first propositions, on which rest the
      subsequent reasonings.

            I premise these particulars that the reader may know
            that I enter upon it as a very ungrateful task.
                                                  --Addison.

Premise \Prem"ise\, n.; pl. {Premises}. [Written also, less
   properly, {premiss}.] [F. pr['e]misse, fr. L. praemissus, p.
   p. of praemittere to send before; prae before + mittere to
   send. See {Mission}.]
   1. A proposition antecedently supposed or proved; something
      previously stated or assumed as the basis of further
      argument; a condition; a supposition.

            The premises observed, Thy will by my performance
            shall be served.                      --Shak.

   2. (Logic) Either of the first two propositions of a
      syllogism, from which the conclusion is drawn.

   Note: ``All sinners deserve punishment: A B is a sinner.''
         These propositions, which are the premises, being true
         or admitted, the conclusion follows, that A B deserves
         punishment.

               While the premises stand firm, it is impossible
               to shake the conclusion.           --Dr. H. More.

   3. pl. (Law) Matters previously stated or set forth; esp.,
      that part in the beginning of a deed, the office of which
      is to express the grantor and grantee, and the land or
      thing granted or conveyed, and all that precedes the
      habendum; the thing demised or granted.

   4. pl. A piece of real estate; a building and its adjuncts;
      as, to lease premises; to trespass on another's premises.

Premise \Pre*mise"\, v. i.
   To make a premise; to set forth something as a premise.
   --Swift.

Source : WordNet®

premise
     n : 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" [syn:
          {premiss}, {assumption}]

premise
     v 1: set forth beforehand, often as an explanation; "He premised
          these remarks so that his readers might understand"
     2: furnish with a preface or introduction; "She always precedes
        her lectures with a joke"; "He prefaced his lecture with a
        critical remark about the institution" [syn: {precede}, {preface},
         {introduce}]
     3: take something as preexisting and given [syn: {premiss}]