presume 
Yet, sir. I presume you would not wish me to quit the 
army? Sheridan, The Rivals, II. 1. 
The business of farming . . . is assessed in respect of a 
presumed profit. & Dowrll, Taxes In England, III. 122. 
= Syn. 2. Surmise, duett, etc. (ee conjecture), think, con- 
eider. 
II. intraiis. 1. To be venturesome; espe- 
cially, to venture beyond the limits of ordinary 
license or propriety; act or speak overboldly. 
Neither boldness can make us presume as long as we are 
kept under with the sense of our own wretchedness. 
/footer, Eccles. Polity, v. 47. 
I found not what methought I wanted still ; 
And to the heavenly Vision thus presumed. 
Milton, V. L., Till. 356. 
2. To press forward presumptuously; be led 
by presumption; make one's way overconfi- 
dently into an unwarranted place or position. 
Presume thou not to hye, I rid, 
Least it turn thee to blame. 
Babees Book (E. E. T. 8.), p. 91. 
Up-led by thee. 
Into the heaven of heavens I have presumed, 
An earthly guest. Milton, f. L., vii. IS. 
TO presume Oft. Same as to presume upon. 
They (the Waymoores] haue long halre, are without 
Townesor houses, and care not where they come, presum- 
ing o/ their swiftnesse. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 840. 
To presume upon or on, to rely upon as a reason for 
huldness ; hence, to act overboldly or arrogantly on the 
strength of, or on the supposition of. 
Do not presume too much upon my love. 
Shak., J. O., Iv. 3. 63. 
She, . . . presuming on the hire of her treason, deserted 
her II ii I. in. I Milton, Hist. Eng., II. 
presumedly (pre-zu'ined-li), adv. By presump- 
tion ; as one may suppose ; presumably. 
The matter was considerably simplified by the fact that 
these societies, presumedly from patriotic motives, send 
the persons they assist only to the Dominion of Canada. 
Lancet, No. 3412, p. 144. 
presunier (pre-zu'mer), . [< presume + -er 1 .] 
One who presumes; an arrogant or presump- 
tuous person. 
presuming (pre-zu'ming), p. a. Acting pre- 
sumptuously ; hence, overbold ; forward ; pre- 
sumptuous. 
presumingly (pre-zii'ming-li), adv. With pre- 
sumption; overcontidently; arrogantly. 
presumptt (pre-zumpf), r. t. [< L. preaumptus, 
pp. of presvmere. take beforehand: see pre- 
sume.] To take inconsiderately or rashly. 
The vow beynge premmpted, dyssembled, and fayned. 
r.,,. /.'"', Apology, fol. 10. 
presumption (pre-zump'shqu), ii. [< OV. pre- 
sumption, F. presdmption = Sp. presuncion = Pg. 
presumpySo = It. preunsione, < L. prxsump- 
tio(n-), a taking beforehand, an anticipation, 
<.prxsumere,vp.prxsumptus, presume: see pre- 
sume.] 1. The act of presuming, or taking 
upon one's self more than good sense and pro- 
priety warrant; excessive boldness or over- 
confidence in thought or conduct; presump- 
tuousness; assurance; arrogance. 
I could say much more of the king's majesty without 
flattery, did I not fear the imputation of presumption. 
haleiyh. Hist. World, Pref., p. 19. 
We cannot tell what is a Judgment of God ; 'tis presump- 
tion to take upon us to know. Selden, Table-Talk, p. 58. 
If ye think ye may with a pious presumption strive to 
goe beyond God in mercy, I shall not be one now that 
would dissuade ye. Milton, Church-Government, It, Con. 
2. The act of presuming or probably inferring; 
hypothetical or inductive inference. 
Most of those that believe a God and a Judgment to come, 
and yet continue In sin, do it upon this presumption, that 
one time or other they shall leave their sins, and change 
the course of their lives before they go out of this world. 
StUlinyfeet, Sermons, II. ill. 
3. That which is presumed ; that which is 
supposed to be true upon grounds of proba- 
bility. 
When we see any part or organ developed In a remark- 
able degree or manner in any species, the ttAr presumption 
is that it Is of high importance to that species. 
Darwin, Origin of Species, p. 15S. 
4. A ground for presuming or believing; evi- 
dence or probability, as tending to establish an 
opinion. 
There will always be a strong presumption against the 
sincerity of a conversion by which the convert is directly 
a gainer. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. 
The mere possibility of an event furnishes no presump- 
tion, not even the slightest, of its realization. 
Mieart, Nature and Thought, p. 113. 
5. In lair, an inference as to the existence of 
one fact from the existence of some other fact, 
founded upon a previous experience of their 
connection, or dictated by the policy of the law. 
Presumptions are generally inferences in accordance with 
the common experience of mankind and the established 
principles of logic; but. as they differ in cogency or con- 
4711 
vincing power, the term is used variously as signifying 
different degrees of certainty In the Inference, (a) An 
Inference which a jury, or a judge sitting in the place of a 
Jury, may without error draw from a given state of facts, 
but Is not bound to draw from them : called by way of dis- 
tinction a presumption o//rt. (6) An inference which, in 
absence of evidence to the contrary, the law draws, and a 
jury or judge cannot without error refuse to apply : called 
by way of distinction a legal presumption or a presumption 
o/ law ; more specifically, a rebuttable leyal presumption, 
(e) An inference which the law, usually for reasons of pub- 
lic policy, draws from a given state of facts, and refuses to 
allow evidence to countervail the Inference : called a con- 
elusive presumption or an irrebuttable presumption. (See 
conclusive.) Thus an Infant under 7 is conclusively pre- 
sumed incapable of criminal Intent, and the law will not 
allow evidence to be received that he was precociously 
capable of It. An infant between 7 and 14 (by statute 
now in New York 12) is presumptively incapable of such 
intent, but this, though a presumption of law which can- 
not be disregarded in the absence of evidence, may be re- 
butted by evidence of actual capacity. An Infant over 
that age shown to be untaught and dull of comprehension 
might be inferred to be without such capacity, but this 
Inference (unless the evidence was clear) would be only a 
presumption of fact, which the Jury alone could draw, and 
the court could not control. Philosophical or logical 
presumption. See philosophical. =8yn. 1. Pride, Arro- 
gance, Presumption, etc. (see arrogance), assurance, ef- 
frontery, forwardness. See presitmptuousncss. 2. Sur- 
mise, Conjecture, etc. See in/en nce.t. Likelihood, prob- 
ability. 
presumptive (pre-zump'tiv), . [<F.presomp- 
tif= Sp. presuntieo = Pg. presumptive = It.pre- 
tftintivo, < LL. "priesuntptivus (in adv. presump- 
tive, boldly, presumptuously), < L. prxsumere, 
pp. prxsumptus, presume: see presume.'] 1. 
Based on presumption or probability; proba- 
ble; grounded on probable evidence; proving 
circumstantially, not directly. 
A strong presumptive proof that his interpretation of 
Scripture is not the true one. Waterland, Works, I. 321. 
2f. Unreasonably confident; presumptuous; 
arrogant. 
There being two opinions repugnant to each other, it 
may not be presumpttce or sceptical to doubt of both. 
Sir T. Broume. 
Heir presumptive. See heir. -Presumptive evidence. 
See evidence. =8yn. 1. Sec presumptuous. 
presumptively (pre-zump'tiv-li), adv. In a pre- 
sumptive manner; by presumption or supposi- 
tion grounded on probability ; by previous sup- 
position ; presumably. 
presumptuous (pre-zump'tu-us), a. [< ME. 
presumptuous (in adv.), <"OF. presumpcieus, 
presumptieus, presompcieus, etc., F. presomp- 
tueux = Sp. presuntuoso = Pg. presumptuoso = 
It. presuntitoso, < LL. pnesumptiosus, prtesump- 
tosus, full of boldness, < L. prxsumptio(u-), 
boldness, presumption: see presumption.'] Go- 
ing beyond the limits of propriety or good sense 
in thought or conduct ; exhibiting or marked 
by presumption; overbold; presuming; arro- 
gant. 
'Tis not thy southern power . . . 
Which makes thee thus presumptuous and proud. 
Shak., 3 Hen. VI., 1. 1.157. 
Presumptuous man, see to what desperate end 
Thy treachery hath brought thee ! 
Beau, and Ft., Knight of Burning Pestle, ill 4. 
Rash author, 'tis a vain presumptuous crime 
To undertake the sacred art of rhyme. 
Dryden and Soames, tr. of Boileau's Art of Poetry, i. 1. 
= 8yn. Forward, venturesome, foolhardy. Presumptive 
and presumptuous have no meanings in common. See 
arroyance. 
presumptuously (pre-zump'tu-us-li), adv. [< 
ME. presumptuously; < presumptuous + -ty 2 .] 
In a presumptuous manner; with rash confi- 
dence; overboldly; arrogantly. 
Thou woldest konne that I can and carpen hit after, 
Presumptuously, parauenture a-pose so manye, 
That hit mysthe turne me to tene ami Theologie bothe. 
Piers Plowman (A), xii 8. 
Bull 
God's counsel have not kept, his holy secret 
Presumptuously have published. 
Milton, S. A., 1. 498. 
presumptuousness (pre-zump'tu-us-nes), n. 
The state or character of being "presumptuous 
or rashly confident ; groundless confidence ; ar- 
rogance; irreverent boldness or forwardness. 
= Syn. Presumptuousness differs from presumption only In 
being simply a quality, while presumption may be either 
a quality or the conduct exhibiting the quality. 
presupposal (pre-su-po'zal), n. [< pre- + sup- 
posal.] Supposal formed beforehand ; presup- 
position. 
If our presupposall be true, . . . the Poet Is of all other 
the most auncient Orator. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 163. 
presuppose (pre-su-poz'), v. t.; pret. and pp. 
presupposed, ppr. presupposing. [< OF. pre- 
v/(/i/ioser, F. presupposer; as prv- + suppose. 
Cf. Sp. presupouer = Pg. presuppor = It. i-r- 
xuppurre.] 1. To suppose beforehand; take 
pretend 
for granted in advance of actual knowledge or 
experience. 
Whatsoeuer the Philosopher sayth sboulde be doone, hee 
Klueth a perfect picture of It In some one by whom hee pre- 
mppotelk it was done. Sir P. Sidney, Apol. for Poetrle. 
Men of corrupted minds presuppose that honesty grow- 
eth out of simplicity of manners. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, II. 282. 
2. To assume beforehand; require or imply as 
an antecedent condition ; necessitate the prior 
assumption of. 
For a remembrance presupposeth the thyng to be absent ; 
and therefore, if this be a remembraunce of hym, then can 
he not here be present. Fryth, Works, p. 121. 
Those who attempt to reason us out of our follies begin 
at the wrong end, since the attempt naturally presupposes 
us capable of reason. Goldsmith, English Clergy. 
Nutrition presupposes obtainment of food; food cannot 
be got without powers of prehension, and, usually, of lo- 
comotion. /' Spencer, Man vs. State, p. 95. 
presupposition (pre-sup-o-zish'on), H. [< F. 
presupposition = Sp. presuposicion = Pg. pre- 
supposi^&o = It. presupposizione ; as pre- + sup- 
position. Cf. presuppose.] 1. Supposition in 
advance of experience or knowledge ; surmise ; 
conjecture, 
There 
and many 
were many great conjectures and presuppositions, 
iy long circumstances to bring it to conclusion. 
AortA, tr. of Plutarch, p. 383. 
2. Postulation as of an antecedent condition ; 
hence, that which is postulated as a necessary 
antecedent condition; a prerequisite. 
Satan will be an adversary, man will be proud : a neces- 
sity upon presupposition of Satan's malice, and man's 
wickedness. Rev. T. Adams, Works, II. 394. 
Self-directing agency is the presupposition of ethical 
science, and separates it by a sharp line from Physics. 
Kew I'rinceton Rev., I. 183. 
presuppositionless (pve-.sup-o-zish'on-les), a. 
[< presupposition + -less.] Without or inde- 
pendent of presuppositions. 
It has already been seen how the theory of knowledge, 
when it passed out of Kant's hands, and tried to make it- 
self (a) complete and (6) pre-suppontimdess, became for 
Hegel a logic that was in reality a metaphyslc. 
Encyc. Brit., XVIII. 795. 
presurmise (pre-ser-miz'), n. [< pre- + sur- 
mise.] A surmise previously formed. 
It was your presurmise 
That, In the dole of blows, your son might drop. 
SAo*.,2Hen. IV., i. 1. 168. 
presylvian (pre-sil'vi-an), a. [<prc- + Sylrian.] 
Anterior, as a part of the Sylvian fissure : ap- 
plied to the ascending branch of this fissure. 
See ]>ostsylrian. 
presymphysial (pre-sim-fiz'i-al), a. [< L. prsr, 
before, + ML. sumphysix, symphysis: see sym- 
physial.'] Situated in advance of the symphy- 
sis menti. Geol. Jour., XLIV. 146. 
presystole (pre-sis'to-le), . [< L. prx, before, 
+ NL. systole, systole.] The interval imme- 
diately prior to the systole. 
A study of the sphincters of the cardiac and other veins, 
with remarks on their hermetic occlusion during the pre- 
systole state. Nature, XXX. 400. 
presystolic (pre-sis-tol'ik), a. [< presystole + 
-ic.J Preceding the systole Presystollc mur- 
mur, a murmur at the close of diastole, immediately pre- 
ceding systole. 
pret. An abbreviation of preterit. 
preteacht(pre-tech'), . t. [<. pre- + teach.'] To 
teach in advance. [Rare.] 
He taki-s the oaths of allegiance and supremacy which 
he Is prfftaughl to evade, or think null. 
Amherst, Terne Flllus, No. 3. 
pretence, u. See pretense. 
pretend (pre-tend ), r. [< ME. pretenden, < OF. 
pretendre, F. prttendre = 8p. Pg. pretender = 
It. pretendere, < L. prxtendere, stretch forth or 
forward, spread before, hold out, put forward 
as an excuse, allege, pretend, < prx, before, + 
tendere, stretch: see tend.] I. trans. It. To 
hold out before one or in front; stretch for- 
ward ; hence, to put before one for action, con- 
sideration, or acceptance ; offer; present. 
But Pastorella. wofull wretched Elfe, 
Was by the Captaine all this while defended, 
Who, minding more her safety than himselfe, 
His target alwayes over her pretended. 
Spenser, F. Q., VI. ri. 19. 
All stood with their pretended spears prepar'd, 
With broad steel heads the brandish'd weapons glar'd. 
Dryden, tr. of Ovid's Meleager and Atalanta, 1. 104. 
I had not thought (courteous reader) to have pretended 
thus conspicuously in thy sight this rude and indigested 
chaos of conccitcs, the abortive issue of my vnfertile 
braine. Times' Whistle(E. E. T. 8.), p. 110. 
To that wench 
I pretend honest lore, and she deserves it, 
Middlcton and /.'"/'/, Changeling, tv. 2. 
