\Guess\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Guessed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Guessing}.] [OE. gessen; akin to Dan. gisse, Sw. gissa,
Icel. gizha, D. gissen: cf. Dan. giette to guess, Icel. geta
to get, to guess. Probably originally, to try to get, and
akin to E. get. See {Get}.]
1. To form an opinion concerning, without knowledge or means
   of knowledge; to judge of at random; to conjecture.
         First, if thou canst, the harder reason guess.
                                               --Pope.
2. To judge or form an opinion of, from reasons that seem
   preponderating, but are not decisive.
         We may then guess how far it was from his design.
                                               --Milton.
         Of ambushed men, whom, by their arms and dress, To
         be Taxallan enemies I guess.          --Dryden.
3. To solve by a correct conjecture; to conjecture rightly;
   as, he who guesses the riddle shall have the ring; he has
   guessed my designs.
4. To hit upon or reproduce by memory. [Obs.]
         Tell me their words, as near as thou canst guess
         them.                                 --Shak.
5. To think; to suppose; to believe; to imagine; -- followed
   by an objective clause.
         Not all together; better far, I guess, That we do
         make our entrance several ways.       --Shak.
         But in known images of life I guess The labor
         greater.                              --Pope.
Syn: To conjecture; suppose; surmise; suspect; divine; think;
     imagine; fancy.
Usage: {To Guess}, {Think}, {Reckon}. Guess denotes, to
       attempt to hit upon at random; as, to guess at a thing
       when blindfolded; to conjecture or form an opinion on
       hidden or very slight grounds: as, to guess a riddle;
       to guess out the meaning of an obscure passage. The
       use of the word guess for think or believe, although
       abundantly sanctioned by good English authors, is now
       regarded as antiquated and objectionable by
       discriminating writers. It may properly be branded as
       a colloguialism and vulgarism when used respecting a
       purpose or a thing about which there is no
       uncertainty; as, I guess I 'll go to bed.

\Guess\, v. i.
To make a guess or random judgment; to conjecture; -- with
at, about, etc.
      This is the place, as well as I may guess. --Milton.

\Guess\, n.
An opinion as to anything, formed without sufficient or
decisive evidence or grounds; an attempt to hit upon the
truth by a random judgment; a conjecture; a surmise.
      A poet must confess His art 's like physic -- but a
      happy guess.                             --Dryden.