The singular of Premises is Premises

[Paolo F Cantoni]

Since it's Friday and apropos of nothing much except like Peter Finch in the film "Network"...  

Can I request¹ that you tell your colleagues - especially those that deal with "The Cloud" that the singular of "premises" (as relating to buildings) is "premises" NOT "premise".

I'm sick of hearing (particularly American) speakers on Podcasts talking about "on premise" and "off premise" stuff.    

Why is the singular the same as the plural?  Well it's not...  Technically, the plural is the same as the singular!

The word premise is: "a previous proposition from which another follows,".  In legal documents it meant "matter previously stated" (early 15c.), which in deeds or wills often was a house or building, hence extended meaning of "house or building, with grounds".

Consequently, the word premises came to mean "a piece of land together with its buildings, esp considered as a place of business".  A piece of land - singular!

J.R. Abrial RULES!

My AU$0.05

Paolo

¹ Since it's a request - I've justified placing it here...