Sup*pose" , n. Supposition. [Obs.]
Shak. "A base suppose that he is honest."
Dryden.
Sup*pose" (?), v. i. To make supposition; to think; to be of opinion. Acts ii. 15.
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.
Hear it pronounced