SUPPOSITION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does supposition mean? 

• SUPPOSITION (noun)
  The noun SUPPOSITION has 3 senses:

1. a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence

2. a hypothesis that is taken for granted

3. the cognitive process of supposing

  Familiarity information: SUPPOSITION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUPPOSITION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

conjecture; guess; hypothesis; speculation; supposition; surmisal; surmise

Hypernyms ("supposition" is a kind of...):

opinion; view (a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "supposition"):

divination (successful conjecture by unusual insight or good luck)

Derivation:

suppose (express a supposition)

suppositional; suppositious; supposititious (based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A hypothesis that is taken for granted

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

assumption; supposal; supposition

Context example:

any society is built upon certain assumptions

Hypernyms ("supposition" is a kind of...):

hypothesis; possibility; theory (a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "supposition"):

conclusion (an intuitive assumption)

base; basis; cornerstone; foundation; fundament; groundwork (the fundamental assumptions from which something is begun or developed or calculated or explained)

given; precondition; presumption (an assumption that is taken for granted)

basic assumption; constatation; self-evident truth (an assumption that is basic to an argument)

Derivation:

suppositional; suppositious; supposititious (based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The cognitive process of supposing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

supposal; supposition

Hypernyms ("supposition" is a kind of...):

conjecture (reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "supposition"):

presupposition (the act of presupposing; a supposition made prior to having knowledge (as for the purpose of argument))

Derivation:

suppose (expect, believe, or suppose)

suppose (to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds)

suppositional (based primarily on surmise rather than adequate evidence)

 Context examples 

“Is that what you found your supposition on, Mrs. Crupp?” said I.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

On no possible supposition can we explain the evolution of such a race in this place.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Well, it is a possible supposition.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It is a more probable supposition than murder.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That she is already dead is a very likely supposition.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This was his only secret exception, when he said to his sister, in answer to her suppositions:—Yes, here I am, Sophia, quite ready to make a foolish match.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

The supposition did not pain her.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

If our supposition is correct, then the horse must have crossed that, and there is the point where we should look for his tracks.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Not meeting any sufficient response, he went on:—Is it possible that I have erred in my supposition?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Ah! Victor, be assured that your cousin and playmate has too sincere a love for you not to be made miserable by this supposition.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)