supportation 
.support: see x/i/;i;r/.] Support; maintenance; 
aid; relief. 
They wol ycvt- yow amlience iiitd lnokynge to supporta- 
cion in thy presence, and scorn thee in thyn absence. 
Chaucer, Tale of Mellbeus. 
And for the noble lordship and supporlacim shewid 
unto me at all tyines I heseche our Lord < i'l Kumlon yow. 
Paston letters, I. 323. 
supported (su-por'ted), p. a. In her., having 
another heurint; of the same kind underneath. 
A chief or mtppwted nr^ent, for instance, signifies a chief 
of gold with the edge cif what is assumed to be another 
chief of silver underneath It. It is an uwkward blazoning, 
:iinl is rare. See surmounted. Also sustained. 
supporter (su-por'ter), n. [< support + -er 1 .] 
1. One who supports or maintains, (a) One who 
upholds or helps to carry on ; a furtherer; a defender; an 
advocate; a vindicator: as, supporters of religion, moral- 
ity, and justice. 
Worthy supporters of such a reigning Impiety. South. 
The merchants . . . were averse to this embassy ; but 
the Jesuits and Maillet were the avowed supporters of it, 
and they had with them the authority of (he king. 
Bruce, Source of the Nile, II. 602. 
(b) An adherent ; a partizan : as, a supporter of a candi- 
date or of a faction. 
The supporters of the crown are placed too near It to be 
exempted from the storm which was breaking over it. 
Dryden, Ded. of Plutarch's Lives. 
(>> One who accompanies a leader on some public occasion, 
(a) A sustafner ; a comforter. 
The saints have a companion and supjiorter in all their 
miseries. South. 
2. That which supports or upholds; that on 
which anything rests; a support; a prop. 
A building set upon supporters. Mortimer. 
Specifically (a) In ship-building, a knee placed under the 
cat-head ; also, same as bibb, (b) In her., the representa- 
tion of a living creature accompanying the escutcheon and 
either holding it up or standing beside it as if to keep or 
guard it. In modern times supporters are usually two for 
each escutcheon, and are more commonly In pairs, the two 
of each pair being either exactly alike or simply reversed ; 
it often happens, however, that they are quite different, as 
the Indian and sailor supporting the shield of New York, 
or the lion and unicorn supporting the royal shield of Great 
Britain. In medieval decorative art there was often one 
supporter, as an angel, who actually held the shield, stand- 
ing behind it. Anal supporter. See anal. 
supportfult (su-port'ful), a. [< support + -ful."] 
Abounding with support; affording support. 
[Rare.] 
Vpon th' Eolian gods supportfuU wings, 
With chuarefull shouts, they parted from the shore. 
Mir. /or Mags., p. 821. 
supporting (su-por'ting), p. a. Capable of giv- 
ing or permitting support : as, a supporting col- 
umn of troops. 
Up to this time my troops had been kept In supporting 
distances of each other, as far as the nature of the coun- 
try would admit. U. S. (jrant, Personal Memoirs, I. 601. 
supportive (su-por'tiv), a. [< support + -ire.] 
Supporting; sustaining. [Rare.] 
The coUapse of suppnrtite tissue beneath. 
Amer. Jour. Psychol., 1. 97. 
supportless (su-port'les), a. [< support + -less."] 
Ilaving no support, 
supportmentt (su-port'ment), n. [< support + 
-ment."] Support; aid. 
Prelaty ... in her fleshy supportments. 
Milton, Church-Government, II. 3. 
supportress (su-por'tres), n. [< supporter + 
-ess.] A female supporter. Idassinger. 
supposable (su-po'za-bl), a. [= V.supposable; 
< suppose + -aWe.] Capable of being supposed; 
involving no absurdity, and not meaningless. 
Any supposable influence of climate. 
Trans. Amer. Philol. Ass., XVI. 65. 
2. Sufficiently probable to be admitted prob- 
lematically. 
supposably (su-po'za-bli), adv. In a supposa- 
ble degree or way; as may be supposed or pre- 
sumed. 
Conditions affecting two celestial objects which are 
supposably near enough to be influenced alike. 
Science, I. 49. 
supposal (su-po'zal), i. [< suppose + -n/.] The 
supposing of something to exist; supposition; 
notion; suggestion. 
Holding a weak supposal of our worth, . . . 
He (FortinbrasJ hath not fail'd to pester us with message. 
Shak., Hamlet, I. 2. 18. 
On supposal that you are under the bishop of Cork, I 
send you a letter enclosed to him. 
Sw(ft, To Dr. Sheridan, June 29, 1725. 
suppose (su-poz'), t>. ; pret. and pp. supposed, 
ppr. supposing. [< ME. supposen, soposen, < OF. 
supjioser, F. supposer, taking the place of **/<- 
ponilre = Sp. suponer = Pg. suppdr = It. sup- 
ponere, supporre, < L. supponere, subponere, pp. 
xiippositus. subpositus, put under, substitute, 
esp. substitute by fraud, subjoin, annex, also 
6075 
subject, LL. place as a pledge, hypothecate, in 
ML. suppose, < sub, under, + poncre, set, place, 
put: see suppone ami ;/-.] I. trans. 1. To 
infer hypothetically ; conceive a state of things, 
and dwell upon the idea (at least for a monirnt ) 
with an inclination to believe it true, due to the 
agreement of its consequences with observed 
fact, but not free from doubt. 
Let it not be supposed that principles and opinions al- 
ways go together, any more than sons are always like 
their parents. Gladstone, Might of Right, p. 184. 
2. To make a hypothesis; formulate a propo- 
sition without reference to its being true or 
false, with a view of tracing out its conse- 
<jU'iii-rs. T,, ..upj,,,,,. n, thi~ MM i- Ti"t IM imagine 
merely, since it is an act of abstract thought, and many 
things can be supposed (as the Imaginary points of the 
geometricians) which cannot he imagined ; indeed, any- 
thing can be supposed to which we can attach a definite 
meaning that is, which we can imagine In every feature 
to become a matter of practical interest and which In- 
volves no contradiction. Moreover, to suppose Is to set 
up a proposition in order to trace its consequences, while 
Imagining Involves no such ulterior purpose. 
More rancorous spite, more furious raging broils, 
Than yet can be Imagined or supposed. 
Shot., 1 Hen. VI., ir. 1. 186. 
Go, and with drawn Cu Hashes stand at the Stair-foot, and 
keep all that ask for me from coming up ; suppose you were 
guarding the Scuttle to the Powder-Koom. 
Wycherley, Plain Dealer, 1. 1. 
When we have as great assurance that a thing is as we 
could possibly [have] supposing it were, we ought not to 
doubt of its existence. TiU'Mon. 
3. To assume as true without reflection ; pre- 
sume; opine; believe. 
The kynge ansuerde all in laughinge, as that soposed 
well It was Merlin. M,-rlin ( I :. E. T. 8.), ill! 623. 
Let not my lord s\ippnu that they have slain all the 
young men, the king's sons ; for Amnon only is dead. 
2 Sam. xiii. 32. 
4. To imply; involve as a further proposition 
or consequence; proceed from, as from a hy- 
pothesis. 
The system of living contrived by me was unreasonable 
and unjust, because it supposed a perpetuity of youth, 
health, and vigour. >'>:. Gulliver's Travels, ill. 10. 
This supposeth something without evident ground. 
Sir M. Hale. 
5t. To put, as one thing by fraud in the place 
of another. =gyn. 3. Expect, Suppose (see expect, v. t.\ 
conclude, judge, apprehend. 
II. intrant. To make or form a supposition ; 
think; imagine. 
To that contre I rede we take the waye, 
ffor ther we may not fayle of good seruice, 
As ye suppose, tell me what ye seye. 
Qenerydes (E. E. T. S.), 1. 627. 
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose. Acts li. 15. 
suppose (su-poz'), n. [< suppose, .] Supposi- 
tion ; presumption ; conjecture ; opinion. 
Nor, princes, is It matter new to us 
That we come short of our suppose so far 
That after seven years' siege yet Troy walls stand. 
Shale., T. and C., L 3. 11. 
Those confounded Moussul merchants ! Their supposes 
always come to pass. 
Marryat, Pacha of Many Tales, The Water-Carrier. 
supposed (su-pozd'), p. a. Regarded or received 
as true; imagined; believed. 
Much was said about the supposed vacancy of the throne 
by the abdication of James. Lecky, Eng. In 18th Cent., L 
supposititious 
Supposed bass, in music. 
supposedly (su-po'zed-li), adv. As may be sup- 
posed ; by supposition ; presumably. 
A triumphal arch, supposedly of the period of Marcus 
Aurelius. //. James, Jr., Little Tour, p. 232. 
supposer (su-po'zer), n. [< suppose + -eri.] 
One who supposes. 
supposita (su-poz'i-t&), n. pi. [L., pi. of sup- 
positum : see supposition, sifpposite.] In logic, 
same as extension, 5. 
suppositalityt. . [< "supposital (< supposite + 
-at) + -ity.] See the quotation. 
Hence there can be no difficulty In the meaning of the 
word Suppositalfty, which is the Abstract of the supposi- 
tion. Jnhit Serjeant, Solid Philosophy (1(179), p. 99, 
[quoted by F. Hall. 
suppositaryt, a. [< supposite + -ary.] Suppo- 
sitional. 
Whether (in any art or science whatsoever) a bare Hy- 
pothesis, or sole suppository argument, may not be gratis. 
and with the same facility and authority be denyed as It 
is affirmed. 
John Gaule. The Mag-astro-mancer, or the Magical Astro- 
[logical Diviner Posed and Puzzled (1652), p. 107, 
[quoted by F. Hall. 
suppositatet, r. t. [< supposite + -ate*.] To 
enter by substitution ; enter. [Rare.] 
Wltnesse, for instance sake, those queries, whither God 
be materia prima, and whither Christs divmltle might not 
suppositate a fly. 
John Doughty, A Discourse, etc. (1628), p. 12, quoted by 
(F. Hall. 
t--iiv.] Supposition;)!: h\ pot net ic:il. [ Rare.] 
suppositet (su-poz'it), . and M. [< L. XUJIJMI.H- 
tllX, \H///m,W/A, pp. of Xll/ljllllll II . Kill, /ll, III ('/, pill 
under, substitute: see xi;/yj. . The i plot :i I ions 
crediteil to F. Hall as exemplifying this and the 
cognate words are taken from the "New York 
Nation," August 23d, 1888.] La. 1. PI 
under or opposite. 
The people through the whole world of Antipodes, 
In outward feature, language, and religion. 
Resemble those to whom they are mppotiie. 
Brume, The Antipodes, J. 6. 
2. Supposed; imagined. 
What he brings of the supposite and Imaginary causes of 
Paul, Barnabas, and Peter, proves . . . 
Hubert Bailie, The Dlsswasive . . . Vindicated (1666), 
[p. 21, quoted by F. Hall. 
II. n. 1. A person or thing supposed. 
Passions, at Actions, are of Persons or Suppositet. 
Richard liurthuyije , Causa Del (1676), p. 66, quoted by 
|F. Hall. 
2. The subject of a verb. 
We inqnyre of that we wald knaw : as, made God man 
without synne; and In this the supposit of the verb fol- 
lowes the verb. A. Hume, Orthographic (E. E. T. 8.X p. 30. 
[Rare in all uses.] 
supposite (su-poz'it), t'. t. [< L. suppositua, sub- 
positus, put under, substitute: see suppositr, 
a."] To substitute. 
According to Ockani, the external object for all science 
was of singulars was Included In the name being mppos- 
ited as its verbal equivalent. 
J. Owen, Evenings with Skeptics, II. 866. 
supposition (sup-o-zish'on), n. [< F. supposition 
= Sp. suposicion '= Pg. supposic,8o = It. svppo- 
sizione, supposition, < L. supposttio(n-), subpo- 
sitio(n-), a putting under, substitution, in ML. 
also supposition, (supponere, subponere, put un- 
der, substitute : see suppose."] 1 . The act and 
mental result of hypothetical inference; that 
act of mind by which a likelihood is admitted 
in a proposition on account of the truth of its 
consequences; a presumption. 
We reasoned throughout our article on the supposititm 
that the end of government was to produce the greatest 
happiness to mankind. 
Macaulay, West. Reviewer's Def. of Mill. 
2. The act and mental result of formulating a 
proposition, without reference to its truth or 
falsity, for the sake of tracing out its conse- 
quences ; a hypothesis. 
Spread o'er the silver waves thy golden hairs, 
Ana as a bed 111 take them and there lie, 
And in that glorious supposition think 
He gains by death that hath such means to die. 
SAo*.,C. of E., lit 2. 60. 
3. In logic, the way in which a name is to be 
understood in a given proposition, in reference 
to its standing for an object of this or that class. 
Thus, In the sentences "man is a biped," "man has turned 
rivers and cut through mountains," "man is a class name," 
the substantive name man has the same signification but 
different suppositions. The signification is said to be the 
same, because the variations of meaning are merely the 
regular variations to which names are generally subject; 
and these general modes of variation of meaning are called 
suppositions. 
4f. Substitution. 
I beleeve I am not blameablc for making tMssuppmitiiin 
[of my sonne). Ariaiia (1636), p. 203, quoted by F. Hall. 
Material, personal, HI-., supposition. See the adjec- 
tives. Rule of supposition. Seerufci. 
suppositional (sup-o-zish'on-al), a. [< suppo- 
sition + -a?.] Based on supposition; supposed; 
hypothetical; conjectural. 
Men and angels . . . have ... a certain knowledge of 
them (future things); but it Is not absolute, but only sup- 
positional. South, Sermons, IX. xi. 
suppositionally (sup-o-zish'on-al-i), adv. By 
way of supposition; hypothetically. 
snppOSitionary (sup-o-zish'on-a'-ri), a. [< 
supposition + -ary.] Supposed; hypothetical. 
[Rare.] 
Consider yourself as yet more beloved by me for the man- 
ner in which you have reproved my niiipotitionary errors. 
Shelley, in Dowden, I. 282. 
suppositionless (sup-o-zish'on-les), a. [< suppo- 
sition + -less.] Not subject to any special con- 
ditions; not having any peculiar general char- 
acters Suppositionless function. See/imerion. 
suppositions!, a. Same as supposititious. 
supposititious (su-poz-i-tish'us), a. [= Sp. *- 
<nriticio = Pg. suppositirio = It. suppositifio, < 
. suppositicius, supposititius, ftubpositicius, sub- 
posititius, put in place of another, substituted, 
esp. by fraud, spurious, < mtpponere. subponere, 
pp. suppositus, subpositus, put under, substi- 
tute: see suppose."] 1. Put by artifice in the 
place of or assuming the character of another; 
not genuine ; counterfeit ; spurious. 
