from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hypothetic \Hy`po*thet"ic\, Hypothetical \Hy`po*thet"ic*al\, a.
[L. hypotheticus, Gr. ?: cf. F. hypoth['e]tique.]
Characterized by, or of the nature of, an hypothesis;
conditional; assumed without proof, for the purpose of
reasoning and deducing proof, or of accounting for some fact
or phenomenon.
[1913 Webster]
Causes hypothetical at least, if not real, for the
various phenomena of the existence of which our
experience informs us. --Sir W.
Hamilton.
[1913 Webster]
{Hypothetical baptism} (Ch. of Eng.), baptism administered to
persons in respect to whom it is doubtful whether they
have or have not been baptized before. --Hook. --
{Hy`po*thet"ic*al*ly}, adv. --South.
[1913 Webster]