Middle English Dictionary Entry
prēsuppōsen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | prēsuppōsen v. |
| Etymology | OF presupposer |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To assume beforehand or in the beginning (that sth. is so, sth. to be so), presuppose; postulate (sth.); (b) to assume the prior existence of (sth.); ppl. presupposed, assuming the prior existence of (sth.); (c) to assume (that sth. is so); take (sth.) for granted; ppl. presupposed, presuming (that sth. is so); (d) to require (sth.) as a precondition.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)164 : Certis þis secunde party of þis present xxxixe. trouþe is so open, presupposid þe first party to be trewe, þat it nediþ not no long proof.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)282 : If þese presupposid in þe ij next treuþis bifore ben trewe, folewen þese xxje. and xxije. treuþis to gidere.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)22 : He in thilk bidding presupposith tho deedis to be knowen bifore of hem to whom he biddith tho deedis to be kept as lawis.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)151/29 : It semeþ þat he presupposiþ þo marchaundisis move þe wil into her kepyng, þouȝ y so not presuppose.
- c1475(1459) Pros.Yorkists in EHR 26 (Roy 17.D.15)514 : I wolle presuppose, for the way of communicacion, that thay bene as ye reput thaim.
b
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)318 : Ȝitt þerof folewiþ not þat as in þat..he ordeyned hem to haue eny gretter..power of..making and mynistryng þo sacramentis þan þei schulde haue had bi resoun and bi eleccioun þerto made of þe peple, presupposid and afore receivid and had of vs þe seid feiþis and sacramentis bi ordinauunce and ȝift of god.
c
- (1449) RParl.5.147b : Hit may be presupposed, by theire froward dedes and contrarious disposition, that theire intention is not to procede effectuelly to eny good conclusion of pees.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)114 : And the iie. is this, setting not bi forto folowe the determynaciouns and the holdingis of the chirche in mater of feith; and that for as myche as thei presupposen as what may be sufficiently provid.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)3043 : Thow mayst wel..The swerd ydrawe..Pre-supposyd ther be no whyht To whom the offyce sholde of ryht appertene off duete.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.97 : Neuertheles hit is to be presupposede [L aestimetur] that hit was doen raþer of envy.
d
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)42 : Siþen þese þingis presupposen and requyren afore hem a grettir good to be found or to seeme in vs þan þei ben, oure grettist good may not stonde in hem.