əˈsüm verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English assumen, from Latin assumere, adsumere, from ad- + sumere to take, from sub under + emere to buy, obtain — more at sub- , redeem
transitive verb
1. : to take up or into : receive , accept :
a. : to receive into heaven
in what wise the Mother of God had been assumed into her place in Heaven — William James
b. : to take into partnership, employment, or use : receive as an associate
revealed religion assumes them into her service — R.C.Trench
2. : to take to or upon oneself : undertake:
a. : to invest oneself with (a form, attribute, or aspect)
anxious in this lecture not to assume the role of a Christian apologist — W.R.Inge
visits of inspection often assume a dramatic character — C.L.Jones
b. : to put on (an article of clothing) : don
had assumed her bonnet and shawl — Arnold Bennett
c. : to invest oneself formally with (an office or its symbols) : enter upon the duties of
at the age of 40 he assumed the presidency of the college
d. : to take upon oneself (to do or perform) : undertake — used chiefly in law and with following infinitive
did assume to carry his horse … over the water of Humber sound — William Fulbecke
3. : to take as one's right or possession : arrogate , seize , usurp
the king assumed to himself the right of filling up the chief municipal offices — T.B.Macaulay
4. : to take in appearance only : pretend to have or be : feign
she felt, without knowing why, that the gaiety was assumed — Ellen Glasgow
5. : to take for granted : accept arbitrarily or tentatively : suppose
we simply assumed that we were going to be married — R.P.Warren
6. : to take as an assumption or premise in logic
7. : to take over as one's own (the debts of another) : make oneself formally liable for
the public debt which the incorporators assumed — W.P.Webb
intransitive verb
: to claim more than is due : be pretentious
in the absence of proof history has no right to assume — Hilaire Belloc
Synonyms:
affect , pretend , simulate , feign , counterfeit , sham : assume may apply by putting on a false or deceptive appearance through either pardonable or blameworthy motives
by assuming an air of cheerfulness we become cheerful in reality — William Cowper
an elderly “buck” with an air of assumed juvenility — W.S.Gilbert
the defense counsel assumes great friendliness and the inexperienced witness assumes that this friendliness may be genuine — Paul Wilson
assume a meek look
affect indicates making a false show of possessing, using, feeling, or preferring
Gayerson, a Bengal Civilian, who affected the customs — as he had the heart — of youth — Rudyard Kipling
Elizabeth could but just affect concern in missing him; she really rejoiced at it — Jane Austen
a tramp cyclist, affecting turtleneck sweaters and gray flannel bags — P.G.Wodehouse
pretend may suggest sustained profession of or adherence to what is false
I shall find myself pretending that I am so full of resources that I do not require any outside help to enjoy a holiday in a lovely place — O.S.J.Gogarty
absurd to pretend that the young men of Europe ever wanted to hunt each other into holes in the ground and throw bombs into the holes to disembowel one another — G.B.Shaw
they had high critical standards; even their clowns had to be learned or to pretend learning — Gilbert Highet
simulate indicates factitiously appearing or imitating for a purpose
Tibetan women do not like to appear sunburnt, even powdering their faces to simulate a fair complexion — Heinrich Harrer
since few cannon were available, trees hewn to simulate formidable artillery pieces were dragged into position all along the ramparts — American Guide Series: Louisiana
casting myself face downwards on the earth, … simulating death — W.H.Hudson†1922
feign , often interchangeable with simulate , may suggest calculated intent and artful execution
a clever young man who had evaded conscription by feigning epilepsy — Eric Linklater
Bouquet, feigning retreat, drew the Indians forward to receive a flanking fire from companies ambushed for the purpose — S.J.Buck
counterfeit may imply imitation that copies very closely
counterfeit coins
many noblemen gave the actor-manager access to their collections of armor and weapons in order that his accouterment should exactly counterfeit that of a Norman baron — G.B.Shaw
sham may apply to deception so obvious that it deceives only the gullible
when the curtain falls there are more actors shamming dead upon the stage than actors upright — H.A.L.Craig
Synonym: see in addition presuppose .