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Suppose vs Presume - What's the difference?

suppose | presume |

In transitive terms the difference between suppose and presume

is that suppose is to theorize or hypothesize while presume is to assume to be true (without proof); to take for granted, to suppose.

suppose

English

Verb

(suppos)
  • To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=15 citation , passage=‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough! […] What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit of embroidery or anything at all?’}}
  • To theorize or hypothesize.
  • * , chapter=5
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=Of all the queer collections of humans outside of a crazy asylum, it seemed to me this sanitarium was the cup winner. […] When you're well enough off so's you don't have to fret about anything but your heft or your diseases you begin to get queer, I suppose .}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-09-06, author= David Cox
  • , volume=189, issue=13, page=30, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Celebrity rules even Hawking's universe , passage=Just what is supposed to be wrong with the pursuit of fame is not always made clear. Plato disapproved of competition for praise on the grounds that it would tempt the great to bend to the will of the crowd. It is hard to argue with that, and social degradation remains a fear.}}
  • To imagine; to believe; to receive as true.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • How easy is a bush supposed a bear!
  • * (Bible), 2 (w) xiii. 32
  • Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead.
  • *
  • As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish,I do not suppose that it matters much in reality whether laws are made by dukes or cornerboys, but I like, as far as possible, to associate with gentlemen in private life.
  • To require to exist or to be true; to imply by the laws of thought or of nature.
  • Purpose supposes foresight.
  • * 1752 , (Charlotte Lennox), (The Female Quixote)
  • One falsehood always supposes another, and renders all you can say suspected.
  • To put by fraud in the place of another.
  • Synonyms

    * assume (1,2) * See also

    Derived terms

    * supposable * supposed to (idiom) * supposedly

    Statistics

    * English reporting verbs ----

    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

    Anagrams

    * ----