assumption

From Middle English assumpcioun, from Medieval Latin assumptio (“a taking up (into heaven)”) and Latin assumptio (“a taking up, adoption, the minor proposition of a syllogism”); see assume.

• IPA^(key): /əˈsʌmp.ʃən/

assumption (countable and uncountable, plural assumptions)

1. The act of assuming, or taking to or upon oneself; the act of taking up or adopting.

   His assumption of secretarial duties was timely.

2. The act of taking for granted, or supposing a thing without proof; a supposition; an unwarrantable claim.

   Their assumption of his guilt disqualified them from jury duty.

3. The thing supposed; a postulate, or proposition assumed; a supposition.
   • 1976, “The Journal of Aesthetic Education, Volume 10”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎:

     No doubt a finite evaluative argument must make some unargued evaluative assumptions, just as finite factual arguments must make some unargued factual assumptions.

4. (logic) The minor or second proposition in a categorical syllogism.
5. The taking of a person up into heaven.
6. A festival in honor of the ascent of the Virgin Mary into heaven, celebrated on 15 August.
7. (rhetoric) Assumptio.

• See also Thesaurus:supposition

• Assumption Parish

• assume
• assumptive

• assumption in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• assumption in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.