Assume
[ə'sjuːm] or [ə'sum]
Definition
(verb.) take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect; 'His voice took on a sad tone'; 'The story took a new turn'; 'he adopted an air of superiority'; 'She assumed strange manners'; 'The gods assume human or animal form in these fables'.
(verb.) take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof; 'I assume his train was late'.
(verb.) take up someone's soul into heaven; 'This is the day when May was assumed into heaven'.
(verb.) occupy or take on; 'He assumes the lotus position'; 'She took her seat on the stage'; 'We took our seats in the orchestra'; 'She took up her position behind the tree'; 'strike a pose'.
(verb.) seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession; 'He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town'; 'he usurped my rights'; 'She seized control of the throne after her husband died'.
(verb.) take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities; 'When will the new President assume office?'.
Typist: Maura--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) To take to or upon one's self; to take formally and demonstratively; sometimes, to appropriate or take unjustly.
(v. t.) To take for granted, or without proof; to suppose as a fact; to suppose or take arbitrarily or tentatively.
(v. t.) To pretend to possess; to take in appearance.
(v. t.) To receive or adopt.
(v. i.) To be arrogant or pretentious; to claim more than is due.
(v. i.) To undertake, as by a promise.
Editor: Sheldon
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. [1]. Take, undertake, take on, take upon one's self, be willing to bear.[2]. Affect, feign, counterfeit, simulate, pretend to, put on.[3]. Arrogate, usurp, claim unduly, make unjust pretensions to.[4]. Beg, suppose, presuppose, imply, consider as true, take for granted.
Checked by Jessie
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Take, appropriate, arrogate, wear, exhibit, postulate, suppose, presume, usurp,claim, pretend, feign, affect
ANT:Waive, allow, doff, render, surrender, concede, grant, demonstrate, abandon,argue, prove
Editor: Vlad
Definition
v.t. to adopt take in: to take up to take upon one's self: to take for granted: to arrogate: to pretend to possess.—v.i. to claim unduly: to be arrogant.—adjs. Assum′able Assump′tive that may be assumed.—adv. Assum′ably presumably.—adj. Assumed′ appropriated usurped: pretended: taken as the basis of argument.—advs. Assum′edly Assum′ingly.—adj. Assum′ing haughty: arrogant.
Editor: Lou
Examples
- Sure enough, as indicated by the change of commanders, the enemy was about to assume the offensive. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Well, I understand Lily is about to assume them in the shape of Mr. Rosedale, Mrs. Fisher said with a laugh. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- If a close coil of wire is suspended between the poles of a strong horseshoe magnet, it will not assume any characteristic position but will remain wherever placed. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- Let us assume that we have a painting or a drawing in colors from which it is desired to produce a set of printing plates to produce that drawing in facsimile. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- If a delicately made magnet is suspended as in Figure 223, and is allowed to swing freely, it will always assume a definite north and south position. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- He has a certain amount of information at hand which is, we will assume, reasonably trustworthy. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Mr. Blake declared that he would assume the whole responsibility with the greatest pleasure. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- The case has assumed such an extraordinary aspect since Sergeant Cuff's time, that you may revive his interest in the inquiry. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- The news of these reverses caused a very great excitement in Germany and Austria, and the Tsar assumed a more arrogant attitude towards his ally. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- On the 29th of January I arrived at Young's Point and assumed command the following day. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- She assumed an injured air as they came in, never lifted her eyes from her book, or asked a single question. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- My little packing here can be completed in ten minutes--my travelling-dress assumed in ten minutes more. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- For the whole case is assumed. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Mr. Thornton's face assumed a likeness to his mother's worst expression, which immediately repelled the watching Margaret. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- Now, for example, Mr. Traddles,' said Mrs. Micawber, assuming a profound air, 'a judge, or even say a Chancellor. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Whilst, for instance, the spectator is looking at the interior of a church, he sees the objects gradually assuming different appearances. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- But assuming the proof to be possible, the vindication of your innocence would be no easy matter. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- It is argued that pupils must know how to use tools before they attack actual making,--assuming that pupils cannot learn how in the process of making. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Your mother's opinion of him, I am to assume (following your example of assuming this and that), was vastly different. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Or, assuming it to be false, could the conclusion which associated Sir Percival with her guilt have been founded in some inconceivable error? Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Assuming for a moment, that he _was_ overworked; it would show itself in some renewal of this disorder? Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- Let it suffice h ere to state that Rutherford assumes that the greater mass of the atom consis ts o f negatively charged particles rotating about a positive nucle us. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- Marie was one of those unfortunately constituted mortals, in whose eyes whatever is lost and gone assumes a value which it never had in possession. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- From the Gulf of Finland to the Eastern Ocean, Russia now assumes the form of a powerful and civilized empire. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- The latter assumes continuity; the former state or imply certain basic divisions, separations, or antitheses, technically called dualisms. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- If, however, a current is sent through the wire, the coil faces about and assumes a definite position. Bertha M. Clark. General Science.
- And this assimilation of himself to another, either by the use of voice or gesture, is the imitation of the person whose character he assumes? Plato. The Republic.
- Entangled with the love of gaiety, organized as commerce, it is literally impossible to follow the myriad expressions it assumes. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
Edited by Fred