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| pre·sume [ pri zm ] (past and past participle pre·sumed, present participle pre·sum·ing, 3rd person present singular pre·sumes) |
verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb believe something to be true: to accept that something is almost certain to be correct even though there is no proof of it, on the grounds that it is extremely likely
  After several days of searching, they presumed that there were no survivors.
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2. transitive verb seem to prove something: to indicate the existence or truth of something
(
formal
)
Your line of reasoning presumes his being at home all evening.
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3. intransitive verb behave arrogantly or overconfidently: to behave so inconsiderately, disrespectfully, or overconfidently as to do something without being entitled or qualified to do it
(
usually used in negative statements
)
I would never presume to tell you how to run your business.
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4. intransitive verb take advantage: to exploit or take advantage of somebody unscrupulously
would not want to presume on the generosity of a stranger
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| [14th century. Via French< Latin praesumere "take before, anticipate" < sumere "take"] |
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| pre·sum·a·ble adjective |
| pre·sum·ing adjective |
| pre·sum·ing·ly adverb |
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