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supposed

 - 5 dictionary results

sup⋅posed

  [suh-pohzd, -poh-zid]
–adjective
1. assumed as true, regardless of fact; hypothetical: a supposed case.
2. accepted or believed as true, without positive knowledge: the supposed site of an ancient temple.
3. merely thought to be such; imagined: supposed gains.
Use supposed in a Sentence
Origin:
1560–70; suppose + -ed 2

Related forms:
sup⋅pos⋅ed⋅ly  [suh-poh-zid-lee] , adverb

sup⋅pose

  [suh-pohz] verb, -posed, -pos⋅ing.
–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. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To supposed
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.]
sup·posed   (sə-pōzd', -pō'zĭd)   
adj.  

  1. Presumed to be true or real without conclusive evidence.

  2. Intended: medication that is supposed to relieve pain.

    1. Required: He is supposed to go to the store.

    2. Permitted: We are not supposed to smoke here.

    3. Firmly believed; expected: You're supposed to be my friend.

sup·pos'ed·ly (-pō'zĭd-lē) adv.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean put forth or accepted as being true on inconclusive grounds: the supposed cause of inflation; conjectural criticism; the hypothetical site of a lost culture; a foundling's putative father; the reputed author of the article; suppositious reconstructions of dead languages; supposititious hypotheses.
Antonym: certain
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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Word Origin & History

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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