Presume

//pɹɪˈz(j)um// verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To be so presumptuous as (to do something) without proper authority or permission [with to (+ infinitive)]. transitive

    "I don't want to pretend to be an authority on this line of business, so I would never presume to tell you how to run your own company."

  2. 2
    take liberties or act with too much confidence wordnet
  3. 3
    To perform, do (something) without authority; to lay claim to without permission. archaic, transitive

    "Don't make the decision yourself and presume too much."

  4. 4
    take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof wordnet
  5. 5
    To assume or suggest to be true (without proof); to take for granted, to suppose. transitive

    "Paw-prints in the snow allow us to presume a visit from next door's cat."

Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    constitute reasonable evidence for wordnet
  2. 7
    To take as a premise; to assume for the sake of argument. transitive

    "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."

  3. 8
    take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission wordnet
  4. 9
    To impose (on) for one's advantage; to be presumptuous; to take advantage (of); to take liberties (with) [with on or upon]. intransitive

    "Thanks, but I can't accept the money; I would not want to presume on the generosity of a stranger'"

Etymology

From Middle English presumen, from Anglo-Norman presumer and its source, Latin praesūmere (“to take beforehand, anticipate”), from prae- + sūmere (“to take”).

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