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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
English in UK

Assume and Presume - are they exact synomyms?

I have been wondering about the words "assume" and "presume" and whether they are exact synomyms. Dictionaries seem to think they are, where relevant (sometimes they can have entirely different meanings). But to me the word "presume" has a slightly more tentative meaning than "assume" which feels like a stronger supposition. What do you think?
  

Top answer

[nq:1]I have been wondering about the words "assume" and "presume" and whether they are exact synomyms. Dictionaries seem to think ... word "presume" has a slightly more tentative meaning than "assume" which feels like a stronger supposition.

— Usenet

  • [nq:1]I have been wondering about the words "assume" and "presume" and whether they are exact synomyms.
  • Dictionaries seem to think ...
  • word "presume" has a slightly more tentative meaning than "assume" which feels like a stronger supposition.
  • [/nq] Here's Bill Bryson on assume/presume in Troublesome Words (2001 revised edition): > And here's the late Larry (R.
  • ) Trask in Mind the Gaffe (also in Penguin, 2001): > Both of these commentators therefore seem to support your comment that "presume" is often the more tentative.
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6 Answers
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[nq:1]I have been wondering about the words "assume" and "presume" and whether they are exact synomyms. Dictionaries seem to think ... word "presume" has a slightly more tentative meaning than "assume" which feels like a stronger supposition. What do you think?[/nq]
Here's Bill Bryson on assume/presume in Troublesome Words (2001 revised edition):
>
And here's the late Larry (R. L.)
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I was taught that when I "assume", I make an "***" out of "U" and "me", being a reminder that one should not take anything for granted.

Note that "***" here is the English word meaning a stupid animal similar to a donkey, not "***" in the American sense.
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[nq:1]I was taught that when I "assume", I make an "***" out of "U" and "me", being a reminder that ... "***" here is the English word meaning a stupid animal similar to a donkey, not "***" in the American sense.[/nq]
Yes, Americans don't know their *** from a donkey...
John Briggs
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[nq:1]Yes, Americans don't know their *** from a donkey...[/nq]
I assume you've heard of the incompetent linguist, who didn't know his Erse from his Ibo?
Paul Burke
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Sour grapes.
Still pining away for your empire, are you?
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[nq:2]Yes, Americans don't know their *** from a donkey...[/nq]
[nq:1]I assume you've heard of the incompetent linguist, who didn't know his Erse from his Ibo?[/nq]
Ouch!
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