Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Presup(p)on(e, v. [ME presuppone (once, c 1400), otherwise appar. only Sc., med. L. presupponere (a 1250): cf. Suppone v.] tr. a. Of words or qualities: To imply, to presuppose the existence of. b. Of persons: To suppose or assume beforehand, presuppose, presume. c. To suppose, assume; also to anticipate. Also ellipt. d. To interpret, construe (words).a. 1456 Hay II 69/16.
Noble personis, that is to say, personis vertuous, sen all nobilnesse presupponis vertu 1498 Acta Conc. II 202.
Thai wordis presuponis utheris letters of licence gevin of before 1549 Compl. 160/8.
The quhilk reul sais comparatiuus presupponit posituum 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 80.
Quhen the words are … quhispered, they presuppone sick ane … monstrous vertue to be inclosed in the syllables a1599 Rollock Wks. I 442.
Compassioun in his mercie presupponis miserie. Mercie is schawin to the miserabill creature Ib. 480. 1638 Henderson Serm. 367/8.
The word itself … presuppones this mickle, that [etc.]b., c. 1528 Douglas Corr. 126.
Lyk that thing that othir we nocht esteme or ellis presupponis to haue at our plesur 1535 Stewart 47061.
I presuppone first that ȝe wnderstand Of King Williame the successioun did faill c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii 234.
Thir nimphis … To pleis Venus kest all thair appetite; I presuppone that thay hir ȝit fauour 1587-99 Hume 178/453.
I presuppone that theis grave personages wer alyve to behold your proceedingis 1638-54 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 23.
Neither can it bee presupponed that any will attempt that high wickedness 1638 Henderson Serm. 158.
God himself was presupponed to sit betwixt the two cherubsellipt. 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 162.
Howsoever the authoritie be anes establised, I presuppone by violence or tyrannyd. 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 99.
Quhilk words … can na wtherwayis be presupponit or interpretit wtherwayis, in respect [etc.]

e. Of an argument: To prejudge or predetermine (the outcome of a trial). a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 85.
Which [false argument] presupponeth this trial before they judicially pronounce