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Putative vs Presume - What's the difference?

putative | presume |

As an adjective putative

is commonly believed or deemed to be the case; accepted by supposition rather than as a result of proof.

As a verb presume is

to perform, do (something) without authority; to lay claim to without permission.

putative

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Commonly believed or deemed to be the case; accepted by supposition rather than as a result of proof.
  • * 1879 , Maurice Mauris, "A Materialistic Artist," New York Times , 9 Nov., p. 10:
    • [T]he lady . . . insisted upon going herself, requesting me to mind for a second the baby. . . . lo! the baby awoke and stared at me with a pair of big frightened eyes, which the little thing in another moment rolled in all directions, as if in search of its putative mother.
  • * 1989 , , " US must support Thailand if Cambodia is to survive," Milwaukee Sentinel'' ''(Los Angeles Times Service) , 28 Oct. (retrieved 15 Sep. 2009):
    • Just as Prince Sihanouk is fronting for the Khmer Rouge today . . . so also was he their putative leader from 1970 to 1975.
  • * 2006 , Unmesh Kher, " No Neat Endings for the JonBenet Case," Time , 18 Aug.:
    • Karr's past does raise suspicions. When he was arrested in Bangkok, he was living in a dormitory-like guesthouse in a neighborhood frequented by sex tourists. . . . Of course, Karr's putative pedophilia would not make him guilty of murder.

    Synonyms

    * ostensible, purported, reputed, supposed

    presume

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Verb

    (presum)
    • Don't make the decision yourself and presume too much.
  • With infinitive object: to be so presumptuous as (to do something) without proper authority or permission.
    • I wouldn't presume to tell him how to do his job.
  • To assume to be true (without proof); to take for granted, to suppose.
  • * 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.
  • To be presumptuous; with (on), (upon), to take advantage (of), to take liberties (with).
  • * 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

    * (l)

    Derived terms

    * presumed perpetrator

    Related terms

    * presumption * presumptive * presumptuous

    Anagrams

    * ----