The correct answer is (B) assumption; a proposition or theory, which is taken for granted, but has not yet been proved; an assumption or statement on which an argument is based, or from which conclusions will be drawn, which has not yet been proved.

Premise comes from Middle English premises, Latin praemissa, from praemittere (to send before).

Examples of use:

• He thought the problem through repeatedly using several different premises.
• The initial premise was that they could take their vacations at the same time.