presuming
[ pri-zoo-ming ]
/ prɪˈzu mɪŋ /
adjective
RELATED CONTENT
Assume vs. PresumeThe words assume and presume both mean that you take something for granted as being true, but the difference is based on how certain you are. Assume is typically used in situations where someone takes something as the truth with a very low level of certainty or with no proof at all. Presume usually involves a higher level of certainty and is used in situations …
Do babies speak with an accent?We all know that infants don’t actually speak with an accent because they don’t really speak at all. But for a long time scientists presumed that infants’ brains could not process sounds at all. Professor Patricia Kuhl, the director of the Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning at the University of Washington, wanted to test this notion. Kuhl studied infants between six and eight months …
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
- prestwick,
- presumable,
- presumably,
- presume,
- presumed ocular histoplasmosis,
- presumption,
- presumption of fact,
- presumption of innocence,
- presumption of law,
- presumption of survivorship
Origin of presuming
presume
[ pri-zoom ]
/ prɪˈzum /
verb (used with object), pre·sumed, pre·sum·ing.
to take for granted, assume, or suppose: I presume you're tired after your drive.
Law. to assume as true in the absence of proof to the contrary.
to undertake with unwarrantable boldness.
to undertake (to do something) without right or permission: to presume to speak for another.
verb (used without object), pre·sumed, pre·sum·ing.
Origin of presume
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for presuming
presume
/ (prɪˈzjuːm) /
verb
(when tr, often takes a clause as object) to take (something) for granted; assume
(when tr, often foll by an infinitive) to take upon oneself (to do something) without warrant or permission; daredo you presume to copy my work?
(intr; foll by on or upon) to rely or dependdon't presume on his agreement
law to take as proved until contrary evidence is produced
Word Origin for presume
C14: via Old French from Latin praesūmere to take in advance, from prae before + sūmere to assume
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
presume
late 14c., "to take upon oneself, to take liberty," also "to take for granted, presuppose," especially overconfidently, from Old French presumer (12c.) and directly from Latin praesumere "anticipate," in Late Latin, "assume" (see presumption). Related: Presumed; presumedly; presuming.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper