pre·sump·tion   (prĭ-zŭmp'shən)    n.   Behavior or attitude that is boldly arrogant or offensive; effrontery. The act of presuming or accepting as true. Acceptance or belief based on reasonable evidence; assumption or supposition. A condition or basis for accepting or presuming. Law A conclusion derived from a particular set of facts based on law, rather than probable reasoning. [Middle English presumpcion, from Old French, from Late Latin praesūmptiō, praesūmptiōn-, from Latin, anticipation, from praesūmptus, past participle of praesūmere, to anticipate; see presume.]

presumption 

Main Entry: pre·sump·tion
Pronunciation: pri-'z&mp-sh&n
Function: noun
: an inference as to the existence of a fact not certainly known that the law requires to be drawn from the known or proven existence of some other fact

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conclusive presumption
: a presumption that the law does not allow to be rebutted called also irrebuttable presumption —compare REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTION in this entry

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mandatory presumption
: a presumption that a jury is required by law to make upon proof of a given fact —compare PERMISSIVE PRESUMPTION in this entry

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permissive presumption
: an inference or presumption that a jury is allowed but not required to make from a given set of facts called also permissive inference —compare MANDATORY PRESUMPTION in this entry

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presumption of fact
: a presumption founded on a previous experience or on general knowledge of a connection between a known fact and one inferred from it

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presumption of innocence
: a rebuttable presumption in the favor of the defendant in a criminal action imposing on the prosecution the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt

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presumption of intent
: a permissive presumption that if a criminal defendant committed an act it was his or her intent to commit it

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presumption of law
: a presumption (as of the innocence of a criminal defendant) founded on a rule or policy of law regardless of fact

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presumption of survivorship
: the presumption in the absence of direct evidence that of two or more persons dying in a common disaster (as a fire) one was the last to die because of youth, strength, or other reasons rendering survivorship likely

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rebuttable presumption
: a presumption that may be rebutted by evidence to the contrary —compare CONCLUSIVE PRESUMPTION in this entry