I. səˈpōz, rapid often ˈspōz verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English supposen, from Middle French supposer, modification (influenced by poser to put, place) of Medieval Latin supponere to suppose, assume, from Latin, to put under, substitute (perfect stem suppos- ), from sub- + ponere to put, place — more at position , pose
transitive verb
1. obsolete : anticipate
2.
a. : to lay down as a postulate or usually a hypothesis or assumption : accept tentatively as true or real : assume as true for the sake of argument or exposition
suppose an epidemic of typhoid should break out — K.F.Zeisler
this is the form we have supposed them to have in the above discussion — W.S.Sellars
b.
(1) : to hold as belief or opinion : believe , think
the new recruits supposed with some reason that they were advancing democratic objectives — M.W.Straight
(2) : to think probable or in keeping with the facts : entertain as likely or probably true
it is supposed that the pressure … may reach three hundred pounds per square inch — W.J.V.Osterhout
(3) : to believe on slight grounds or without grounds : hold mistakenly or without sufficient proof : presume
the imagination feigns something unknown and invisible which it supposes to continue the same despite all variation of quality — Frank Thilly
numerous pretty things, or things supposed to be pretty — Herbert Spencer
3.
a. : to form a conception of : conceive , imagine
your mother says “Pray send my dear love”. There is hardly room to add mine, but you will suppose it — William Cowper
b. : to have a notion or suspicion of : apprehend , suspect
4. obsolete : pretend
5. archaic : to put in place of another : substitute
6. : to imply as an antecedent : presuppose
every sound taxing system supposes such a surplus — J.A.Hobson
intransitive verb
: conjecture , think , opine
II. noun
( -s )
: supposition , conjecture
would baffle the wildest suppose — George Woodbury