Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Suppose?

\Sup*pose"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Supposed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Supposing}.] [F. supposer; pref. sub- under + poser to place; -- corresponding in meaning to L. supponere, suppositum, to put under, to substitute, falsify, counterfeit. See {Pose}.] 1. To represent to one's self, or state to another, not as true or real, but as if so, and with a view to some consequence or application which the reality would involve or admit of; to imagine or admit to exist, for the sake of argument or illustration; to assume to be true; as, let us suppose the earth to be the center of the system, what would be the result? Suppose they take offence without a cause. --Shak. When we have as great assurance that a thing is, as we could possibly, supposing it were, we ought not to make any doubt of its existence. --Tillotson. 2. To imagine; to believe; to receive as true. How easy is a bush supposed a bear! --Shak. Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead. --2 Sam. xiii. 32. 3. To require to exist or to be true; to imply by the laws of thought or of nature; as, purpose supposes foresight. One falsehood always supposes another, and renders all you can say suspected. --Female Quixote. 4. To put by fraud in the place of another. [Obs.] Syn: To imagine; believe; conclude; judge; consider; view; regard; conjecture; assume.
\Sup*pose"\, v. i. To make supposition; to think; to be of opinion. --Acts ii. 15.
\Sup*pose"\, n. Supposition. [Obs.] --Shak. ``A base suppose that he is honest.'' --Dryden.