presuppose

From Middle French presupposer, from Latin prae- (“before”) and supponere (“to suppose”).

• IPA^(key): /ˌpɹiːsəˈpəʊz/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊz

presuppose (third-person singular simple present presupposes, present participle presupposing, simple past and past participle presupposed)

1. To assume some truth without proof, usually for the purpose of reaching a conclusion based on that truth.
   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Asking for an Invitation”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. , volume III, London: Henry Colburn, , →OCLC, page 26:

     "Nay," replied her companion, "what have I done for you to presuppose such a want of gallantry, as to imagine that I would attempt to guess a lady's secret before she thought proper to communicate it?"

   • 1962 October, “The Victoria Line was only part of the plan”, in Modern Railways, page 258:

     The Working Party's report to the Minister of Transport was published in 1949. It presupposed the demolition of Blackfriars railway bridge on planning grounds, to meet the requirements of the County of London and City of London Plans; [...]. (There were two railway bridges, one was demolished in 1985.)

• “presuppose”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

presuppose

1. third-person singular past historic of presupporre