Hypothetical

Question

hi.Does 'hupothetical' mean not true in:"etiological explanation based on these factors remains hypothetical."(from:http://focus.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?Volume=2&page=558&journalID=21 )

KrisBlueNZ · Accepted Answer

This is a dictionary question; you can find the answer yourself using a paper dictionary or an online dictionary like dictionary.com. dictionary.com says:

hypothetical (adjective)

1. assumed by hypothesis; supposed: a hypothetical case.

2. of, pertaining to, involving, or characterized by hypothesis: hypothetical reasoning.

3. given to making hypotheses.
...

hypothesis (noun)

1. a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.

2. a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.

3. the antecedent of a conditional proposition.

4. a mere assumption or guess.

In this case, hypothetical is used to mean "unconfirmed" or "provisional".

Hypothetical

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