presuppose

pre·sup·pose

transitive verb \ˌprē-sə-ˈpōz\

Definition of PRESUPPOSE

1

: to suppose beforehand

2

: to require as an antecedent in logic or fact

— pre·sup·po·si·tion \(ˌ)prē-ˌsə-pə-ˈzi-shən\ noun

— pre·sup·po·si·tion·al \-ˈzish-nəl, -ˈzi-shə-n^əl\ adjective

Examples of PRESUPPOSE

1. The rule presupposes a need to restrict student access to the library.
2. <the book presupposes its readers will already know something about the subject>

Origin of PRESUPPOSE

Middle English, from Middle French presupposer, from Medieval Latin praesupponere (perfect indicative praesupposui), from Latin prae- + Medieval Latin supponere to suppose — more at suppose

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PRESUPPOSE

Synonyms

hypothecate, hypothesize, postulate, premise, presume, assume, say, suppose

Related Words

accept, believe, credit, swallow; conclude, deduce, gather, infer, judge, take; conjecture, figure, guess, reckon [chiefly dialect], surmise, suspect, suspicion [chiefly dialect], think; conceive, dream, fancy, imagine, perceive, preconceive; speculate, theorize; affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, declare, insist, maintain, profess

Near Antonyms

challenge, controvert, disagree (with), disbelieve, discount, discredit, dispute, distrust, doubt, mistrust, question, wonder (about); deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, reject, repudiate; belie, confute, disprove, rebut, refute

Rhymes with PRESUPPOSE

Berlioz, cabbage rose, cellulose, c'est autre chose, China rose, Christmas rose, compass rose, counterpose, damask rose, decompose, diagnose, discompose, indispose, interpose, juxtapose, on the nose, panty hose, pettitoes, predispose, pussytoes, recompose, shovelnose, superpose, support hose, swaddling clothes, thumb one's nose