Definition of "presume"

presume

/pɹɪˈzjuːm/

verb
third-person singular simple present presumes, present participle presuming, simple past and past participle presumed
1. (transitive) With infinitive object: to be so presumptuous as (to do something) without proper authority or permission.
2. (transitive, now rare) To perform, do (something) without authority; to lay claim to without permission.
3. (transitive) To assume or suggest to be true (without proof); to take for granted, to suppose.
4. (transitive) To take as a premise; to assume for the sake of argument.
  Quotations
  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.
  2011 February 5, John Patterson, The Guardian
5. (intransitive) To be presumptuous; with on, upon, to take advantage (of), to take liberties (with).
  Quotations
  Presume not on thy heart when mine is slain;Thou gavest me thine, not to give back again.
  1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 22”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley
  Emma was not required, by any subsequent discovery, to retract her ill opinion of Mrs. Elton. Her observation had been pretty correct. Such as Mrs. Elton appeared to her on this second interview, such she appeared whenever they met again,—self-important, presuming, familiar, ignorant, and ill-bred.
  1815, Jane Austen, Emma, volume II, chapter 15
  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.
  1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus, published 2010, page 75

Definition of "presume"

presume

verb

Quotations

Quotations