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supposition Definition

sup·po·si·tion (sup′ə zis̸h′ən)

noun

  1. the act of supposing
  2. something supposed; assumption; hypothesis

Etymology: OFr < L suppositio < suppositus, pp. of supponere: see suppose

supposition Related Forms

sup′·po·si′·tional adjective sup′·po·si′·tion·ally adverb

supposition Synonyms

supposition

n.

  1. A guess

    surmise, notion, speculation; see guess, guessing.

  2. A theory

    idea, thesis, likelihood; see hypothesis, opinion 1.

supposition Usage Examples

Preposition: that

  • people: There was no proof at the inquiry only supposition that people will use the bus.
  • something: When water is near and a weight is missing it is not a very far-fetched supposition that something has been sunk in the water.
  • practice: The supposition that practices would refer all cases to their local VI Center, which would then collect data, is incorrect.

Converse of object

  • support: She also starts out the novel with a set of facts designed to support the suppositions in the novel.
  • make: Peter makes a supposition about the individuals to whom he writes.
  • have: Until then we have only supposition to rely on to place Charlie in history.
  • confirm: We use a reference book just to look up the odd fact or confirm a supposition.
  • remain: This might actually back your points very well, but it remains a supposition.
  • base: Since many of the kings are supposition based solely on the bible, it piles supposition on top of supposition.

Adjective modifier

  • pure: But it turns out that this is pure supposition based on a small sample size, preconceptions and guesswork.
  • latter: I was inclined from the first to the latter supposition.
  • reasonable: There is therefore a need to understand the range of each variable for which linearity might be a reasonable supposition.
  • natural: The British Queen had arrived at New York on November 23, and it would be a natural supposition that Gouraud landed then.
  • personal: What determines whether a term has material, simple or personal supposition?
  • such: He made a grim effort to dismiss all such suppositions.

Modifies a noun

  • yesterday: I made the supposition yesterday that the remark was probably deliberate.
  • cannot: But such a supposition cannot but remain highly hypothetical.

Noun used with modifier

material: Material supposition is when a term stands for a linguistic item as such.

Preposition: of

  • knowledge: It is in this operation of transference that the supposition of knowledge is situated.
  • science: We disagree again because I think that as long as correspondence works the suppositions of science are being upheld.