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Webster 1913 Edition


Presume

Pre-sume′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Presumed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Presuming
.]
[F.
présumer
, L.
praesumere
,
praesumptum
;
prae
before +
sumere
to take. See
Assume
,
Redeem
.]
1.
To assume or take beforehand; esp., to do or undertake without leave or authority previously obtained.
Dare he
presume
to scorn us in this manner?
Shakespeare
Bold deed thou hast
presumed
, adventurous Eve.
Milton.
2.
To take or suppose to be true, or entitled to belief, without examination or proof, or on the strength of probability; to take for granted; to infer; to suppose.
Every man is to be
presumed
innocent till he is proved to be guilty.
Blackstone.
What rests but that the mortal sentence pass, . . .
Which he
presumes
already vain and void,
Because not yet inflicted?
Milton.

Pre-sume′

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To suppose or assume something to be, or to be true, on grounds deemed valid, though not amounting to proof; to believe by anticipation; to infer;
as, we may
presume
too far
.
2.
To venture, go, or act, by an assumption of leave or authority not granted; to go beyond what is warranted by the circumstances of the case; to venture beyond license; to take liberties; – often with on or upon before the ground of confidence.
Do not
presume
too much upon my love.
Shakespeare
This man
presumes
upon his parts.
Locke.

Webster 1828 Edition


Presume

PRESU'ME

,
Verb.
T.
s as z. [L. proesumo; proe, before,and sumo, to take.] To take or suppose to be true or entitled to belief, without examination or positive proof, or on the strength of probability. We presume that a man is honest, who has not been known to cheat or deceive; but in this we are sometimes mistaken. In many cases, the law presumes full payment where positive evidence of it cannot be produced.
We not only presume it may be so, but we actually find it so.
In cases of implied contracts, the law presumes that a man has covenanted or contracted to do what reason and justice dictate.

PRESU'ME

,
Verb.
I.
To venture without positive permission; as, we may presume too far.
1.
To form confident or arrogant opinions; with on or upon, before the cause of confidence.
This man presumes upon his parts.
I will not presume so far upon myself.
2.
To make confident or arrogant attempts.
In that we presume to see what is meet and convenient, better than God himself.
3.
It has on or upon sometimes before the thing supposed.
Luther presumes upon the gift of continency.
It is sometimes followed by of, but improperly.

Definition 2024


presume

presume

See also: présumé and présume

English

Alternative forms

Verb

presume (third-person singular simple present presumes, present participle presuming, simple past and past participle presumed)

  1. (transitive, now rare) To perform, do (something) without authority; to lay claim to without permission. [from 14th c.]
    Don't make the decision yourself and presume too much.
  2. (transitive) With infinitive object: to be so presumptuous as (to do something) without proper authority or permission. [from 14th c.]
    I wouldn't presume to tell him how to do his job.
  3. (transitive) To assume to be true (without proof); to take for granted, to suppose. [from 14th c.]
    • 2011, John Patterson, The Guardian, 5 Feb 2011:
      If we presume that human cloning may one day become a mundane, everyday reality, then maybe it's time to start thinking more positively about our soon-to-arrive genetically engineered pseudo-siblings.
  4. (intransitive) To be presumptuous; with on, upon, to take advantage (of), to take liberties (with). [from 15th c.]
    • 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 75:
      Piliso then vented his anger on us, accusing us of lying to him. He said we had presumed on his hospitality and the good name of the regent.

Quotations

  • Paw prints in the snow presume a visit from next door's cat.
  • Dr. Livingstone, I presume?

Synonyms

Derived terms

  • presumed perpetrator

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams


Italian

Verb

presume

  1. third-person singular indicative present of presumere

Anagrams


Portuguese

Verb

presume

  1. third-person singular present indicative of presumir
  2. second-person singular imperative of presumir

Spanish

Verb

presume

  1. Informal second-person singular () affirmative imperative form of presumir.
  2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present indicative form of presumir.
  3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present indicative form of presumir.