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| sup·pose [ sə pṓz ] (past and past participle sup·posed, present participle sup·pos·ing, 3rd person present singular sup·pos·es) |
verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb believe to be true: to believe or imagine something to be the case
  I suppose you haven't heard the news.
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2. intransitive verb imagine as possible: to consider or imagine something to be a possibility
Suppose that he doesn't know about your plan.
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3. transitive verb make something a precondition: to require something as a precondition
Your plan supposes that there are enough presents to go around.
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4. transitive verb indicating tentativeness: used to indicate real or polite hesitancy when making a statement, suggestion, or request
Well, I suppose I'd better be going.
I don't suppose you could lend me the $50, could you?
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5. transitive and intransitive verb used to show reluctant agreement: used when agreeing to do something, or agreeing that something is the case, to show that you do so reluctantly, uncertainly, or noncommittally
"You know it's the right thing to do, don't you?" - "I suppose so."
All right, I suppose I can just about manage it.
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| [14th century. < French supposer, alteration of Latin supponere (see supposition) after French poser "to place"] |
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| sup·pos·a·ble adjective |
| sup·pos·er noun |
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be supposed to do something
1. to be expected to do something as the result of a previous agreement or arrangement, or an obligation
You were supposed to wait for me here.
2. to be expected to do something as the result of an action or set of conditions
The light's supposed to come on when the tank is empty.
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be not supposed to do something to be not allowed or not expected to do something
You weren't supposed to tell anyone that!
Surely it's not supposed to make a noise like that.
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