presume

pre|sume

S3 [prıˈzju:m US -ˈzu:m] v

[Date: 1300-1400; : French; Origin: présumer, from Latin praesumere, from sumere 'to take']

1.) [T]

to think that something is true, although you are not certain

= ↑assume

▪ Each of you will make a speech, I presume?

▪ 'Are his parents still alive?' 'I presume so .'

presume that

▪ I presume we'll be there by six o'clock.

presume sb/sth to be sb/sth

▪ From the way he talked, I presumed him to be your boss.

be presumed to do sth

▪ The temple is presumed to date from the first century BC.

2.) [T]

to accept something as true until it is shown to not be true, especially in law

= ↑assume

▪ We must presume innocence until we have evidence of guilt.

be presumed dead/innocent etc

▪ Their nephew was missing, presumed dead.

3.) [i]formal

to behave without respect or politeness by doing something that you have no right to do

presume to do sth

▪ I would never presume to tell you what to do.

4.) [T usually in present tense] formal

to accept something as being true and base something else on it

= ↑presuppose

▪ The Ancient History course presumes some knowledge of Greek.

presume that

▪ I presume that someone will be there to meet us when we arrive.

5.) presume on/upon sb's friendship/generosity etc

to unfairly ask someone for more than you should, because they are your friend, are generous etc

▪ It would be presuming on his generosity to ask him for money.