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suppose - 7 dictionary results

sup⋅pose

  [suh-pohz] verb, -posed, -pos⋅ing.
Use suppose in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to assume (something), as for the sake of argument or as part of a proposition or theory: Suppose the distance to be one mile.
2. to consider (something) as a possibility suggested or an idea or plan proposed: Suppose we wait until tomorrow.
3. to believe or assume as true; take for granted: It is supposed that his death was an accident.
4. to think or hold as an opinion: What do you suppose he will do?
5. to require logically; imply; presuppose: The evidence supposes his presence near the scene.
6. (used in the passive) to expect or design; require or permit (fol. by an infinitive verb): The machine is supposed to make noise. I'm not supposed to run fast.
–verb (used without object)
7. to assume something; presume; think.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME supposen < OF supposer, equiv. to sup- sup- + poser to pose 1 ; cf. ML suppōnere to suppose, L: to substitute, place below

Related forms:
sup⋅pos⋅a⋅ble, adjective
sup⋅pos⋅a⋅bly, adverb
sup⋅pos⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To suppose
sup·pose   (sə-pōz')   
v.   sup·posed, sup·pos·ing, sup·pos·es

v.   tr.
  1. To assume to be true or real for the sake of argument or explanation: Suppose we win the lottery.
    1. To believe, especially on uncertain or tentative grounds: Scientists supposed that large dinosaurs lived in swamps.
    2. To consider to be probable or likely: I suppose it will rain.
  3. To imply as an antecedent condition; presuppose: "Patience must suppose pain" (Samuel Johnson).
  4. To consider as a suggestion: Suppose we dine together.
v.   intr.
To imagine; conjecture.

[Middle English supposen, from Old French supposer, alteration (influenced by poser, to place) of Medieval Latin suppōnere, from Latin, to put under : sub-, sub- + pōnere, to place; see apo- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

Suppose

Sup*pose"\, v. i. To make supposition; to think; to be of opinion. --Acts ii. 15.

Suppose

Sup*pose"\, n. Supposition. [Obs.] --Shak. "A base suppose that he is honest." --Dryden.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : suppose
Spanish: suponer,
German: vermuten,
Japanese: 想像する
More Translations »

suppose 
c.1315, "to assume as the basis of argument," from O.Fr. supposer "to assume," probably a replacement of *suppondre (influenced by O.Fr. poser "put, place"), from L. supponere "put or place under," from sub "under" + ponere "put, place" (see position). Meaning "to admit as possible, to believe to be true" is from 1526. Supposed "believed or thought to exist" is from 1582, often with the -e- pronounced, to distinguish it from the passive p.t. supposed, now common in the sense of "to have a duty or obligation" (1859). Supposition (1410), as a term in logic is from L.L. suppositionem (nom. suppositio) "assumption, hypothesis," infl. by Gk. hypothesis.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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suppose

see I suppose so.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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