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presuppose Definition

pre·sup·pose (prē′sə pōz)

transitive verb presupposed -·posed′, presupposing -·pos′·ing

  1. to suppose or assume beforehand; take for granted
  2. to require or imply as a preceding condition an effect presupposes a cause

Etymology: ME presupposen < MFr presupposer, altered (based on poser, to place) < ML praesupponere, pp. praesuppositus: see pre- & suppose

Related Forms:

  • presupposition pre′·sup·po·si′·tion (-sup ə zis̸hən) noun
presuppose Synonyms

presuppose

v.

presume, suppose, take for granted; see assume 1. See syn. study at assume.

presuppose Usage Examples

Object

  • familiarity: This, unfortunately, brings us to one of the book's few weaknesses in that it presupposes a basic familiarity with Buddhism.
  • existence: Quite the contrary: Rand's defense of liberty presupposes the existence of objective truth.
  • tomb: Some theological understandings of resurrection, including Crossan's, I take it, do not presuppose an empty tomb.
  • knowledge: Data Protection Strategy presupposes no prior knowledge of the subject.
  • possibility: The quest for a theoretical solution presupposes the possibility of a complete description.
  • presence: It presupposes the presence of a valid residence permit or their promise.

Used with why or when

  • what: Which presupposes what needs to be established - that such weapons or such documents exist.

Modifying Another Word

  • rather: Such a heading rather presupposes the outcome of the consultative process.
  • always: Development of function always presupposes a change in the status of language.
  • not: Such a change does not presuppose a real change in the past people.
  • also: Hooker also presupposes a similar underlying certainty to faith.
  • only: I can only presuppose that your reading skills are somewhat less developed than mine.

Preposition: that

  • standard: The measure presupposes that the standard of an honors degree is the same in every institution.
  • copy: The architecture of the system presupposes that multiple copies of documents can easily be cached around the network.
  • person: Such unity presupposes that the person with a learning disability is at the center of community life.
  • user: This presupposes that the user is able to write in the language of all possible relevant documents.
  • state: The idea of a nation-state presupposes that the state embraces a particular society and a particular culture.