The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Premise \Prem"ise\, n.; pl. Premises. [Written also, less
   properly, premiss.] [F. pr['e]misse, fr. L. praemissus, p.
   p. of praemittere to send before; prae before + mittere to
   send. See Mission.]
   1. A proposition antecedently supposed or proved; something
      previously stated or assumed as the basis of further
      argument; a condition; a supposition.
      [1913 Webster]

            The premises observed,
            Thy will by my performance shall be served. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Logic) Either of the first two propositions of a
      syllogism, from which the conclusion is drawn.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: "All sinners deserve punishment: A B is a sinner."
         [1913 Webster] These propositions, which are the
         premises, being true or admitted, the conclusion
         follows, that A B deserves punishment.
         [1913 Webster]

               While the premises stand firm, it is impossible
               to shake the conclusion.           --Dr. H. More.
         [1913 Webster]

   3. pl. (Law) Matters previously stated or set forth; esp.,
      that part in the beginning of a deed, the office of which
      is to express the grantor and grantee, and the land or
      thing granted or conveyed, and all that precedes the
      habendum; the thing demised or granted.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. pl. A piece of real estate; a building and its adjuncts;
      as, to lease premises; to trespass on another's premises.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

premises
    n 1: land and the buildings on it; "bread is baked on the
         premises"; "the were evicted from the premises"

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

36 Moby Thesaurus words for "premises":
   airspace, area, belt, confines, continental shelf, corridor,
   country, department, district, division, environs, ground,
   heartland, hinterland, land, milieu, neighborhood, offshore rights,
   part, parts, place, precincts, purlieus, quarter, region, salient,
   section, soil, space, terrain, territory, three-mile limit,
   twelve-mile limit, vicinage, vicinity, zone



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

PREMISES, conveyancing. That part in the beginning of a deed, in which are
set forth the names of the parties, with their titles and additions, and in
which are recited such deeds, agreements, or matters of fact, as are
necessary to explain the reasons upon which the contract then entered into
is founded; and it is here also the consideration on which it is made, is
set down, and the certainty of the thing granted. 2 Bl. Com. 298. The
technical meaning of the premises in a deed, is every thing which precedes
the habendum. 8 Mass. R. 174; 6 Conn. R. 289. Vide Deed.



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

PREMISES, equity pleading. That part of a bill usually denominated the
stating part of the bill. It contains a narrative of the facts and
circumstances of the plaintiff's case, and the wrongs of which he complains,
and the names of the persons by whom done, and against whom he seeks
redress. Coop. Eq. Pl..9; Bart. Suit in equity, 27; Mitf. Eq. Pl. by Jeremy,
43; Story, Eq. Pl. Sec. 27; 4 Bouv, Inst. n. 4158.



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

PREMISES. that which is put before. The word has several significations;
sometimes it means the statements which have been before made; as, I act
upon these premises; in this sense, this word may comprise a variety of
subjects, having no connexion among themselves; 1 East, R. 456; it signifies
a formal part of a deed; and it is made to designate an estate.



Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

PREMISES, estates. Lands and tenements are usually, called premises, when
particularly spoken of; as, the premises will be sold without reserve. 1
East, R. 453.