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.
Syn. — To imagine; believe; conclude; judge; consider; view; regard; conjecture; assume.