guess: [13] In the earliest records we have of the verb guess, it is used for ‘take aim’. The modern sense ‘estimate’ did not emerge until the mid- 14th century. It seems to be of Scandinavian origin, and probably comes ultimately from the same base as produced get (Old Norse geta meant ‘guess’ as well as ‘get’, and the semantic progression hinted at by the intermediate ‘take aim’ is probably via ‘lock on to something in one’s sights’ to ‘fix on a particular figure’ – by implication, without exact calculation). Guesstimate, a blend of guess and estimate, is a US coinage of the 1930s. => get
c. 1300, gessen "to infer from observation, perceive, find out; form an opinion, judge, decide, discern; evaluate, estimate the number, importance, etc. of," perhaps from Scandinavian (compare Middle Danish gitse, getze "to guess," Old Norse geta "guess, get"), or from or influenced by Middle Dutch gessen, Middle Low German gissen "to guess," all from Proto-Germanic *getan "to get" (see get (v.)). The prehistoric sense evolution then would be from "get," to "take aim at," to "to estimate." Meaning "to hit upon the right answer" is from 1540s. Spelling with gu- is late 16c., sometimes attributed to Caxton and his early experience as a printer in Bruges. Related: Guessed; guessing. Guessing game attested from 1650s. To keep (someone) guessing "keep him in a state of suspense" is from 1896, American English.
[T]he legitimate, English sense of this word is to conjecture; but with us, and especially in New England, it is constantly used in common conversation instead of to believe, to suppose, to think, to imagine, to fancy. [Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," 1848]
c. 1300, "indiscriminate conclusion, guesswork, doubtful supposition," from guess (v.). Mid-15c. as "considered opinion." Verbal shrug phrase your guess is as good as mine attested from 1902.
双语例句
1. Guess what? I'm going to dinner at Mrs. Combley's tonight.
你猜怎么着？今晚我要去康伯利夫人家里赴宴。
来自柯林斯例句
2. It's a fair guess to say that the damage will be extensive.
说损失会很严重想必猜得不错。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Editors and contributors are trying to second-guess the future.
编辑们和撰稿者们在试图预测未来。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Browning's prediction is no better than a wild guess.
勃朗宁的预测不过是妄加猜测而已。
来自柯林斯例句
5. "I guess you guys don't mind if I smoke?" he drawled.
