Main Entry:

sup·posed

Pronunciation:

\sə-ˈpōzd; 1b & 2a usually -ˈpō-zəd, 3 & 4 often -ˈpōst\

Function:

adjective

Date:

1566

1 a: pretended <twelve hours are supposed to elapse between Acts I and II — A. S. Sullivan> b: alleged <trusted my supposed friends>2 a: held as an opinion : believed ; also : mistakenly believed : imagined <the sight which makes supposed terror true — Shakespeare> b: considered probable or certain : expected <it was not supposed that everybody could master the technical aspects — J. C. Murray> c: understood <you will be supposed to refer to my grandaunt — G. B. Shaw>3: made or fashioned by intent or design <what's that button supposed to do>4 a: required by or as if by authority <soldiers are supposed to obey their commanding officers> b: given permission : permitted <was not supposed to have visitors>

— sup·pos·ed·ly \-ˈpō-zəd-lē also -ˈpōzd-lē\ adverb