Vocaboly.com

[roccov]

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?

[Matti Lamprhey]

Here's Bill Bryson on assume/presume in _Troublesome Words_ (2001
revised edition):
<<
The two words are often so close in meaning as to be indistinguishable,
but in some contexts they do allow a fine distinction to be made.
_Assume_, in the sense of 'to suppose', normally means to put forth a
realistic hypothesis, something that can be taken as probable ('I assume
we will arrive by midnight'). _Presume_ has more of an air of sticking
one's neck out, of making an assertion that may be contentious ('I
presume we have met before?'). But in most instances the two words can
be used interchangeably.>>

And here's the late Larry (R. L.) Trask in _Mind the Gaffe_ (also in
Penguin, 2001):
<<
Both of these [words] mean 'suppose', and their meanings often overlap.
But there is a subtle distinction. To _assume_ something is to take it
for granted as the basis of a discussion or an argument, without
offering any evidence for it. This may be done purely in order to
explore the consequences of the assumption. To _presume_ something is
to suppose it is so because we have no good reason to suppose otherwise.
Of course, _presume_ alone has a second sense of 'be overly bold', 'take
something upon oneself without permission', as in 'We are presuming upon
his hospitality.'>>

Both of these commentators therefore seem to support your comment that
"presume" is often the more tentative.

Matti

[Nick Wagg]

I was taught that when I "assume", I make an "ass" out of "U" and "me", being a reminder that one should not take anything for granted.

Note that "ass" here is the English word meaning a stupid animal similar to a donkey, not "ass" in the American sense.

[lesgolladay]

I went to court for a child support hearing. The judge said to the female You're on welfare" not "What is your income". The judge assumed she was on welfare and therefore feels sorry for her. After finding out she makes ungodly $4500 a month the judge assumed again by making another statement "are you on medicad."
I couldn't believe a judge would presume to assume anything.
I think...
Assuming is being prejudice. Looking at someone and assuming anything about them is being prejudice. But for a judge assuming something about the defendant is also to automatically assume something about the petitioner (the person against the defendant). Like 'if she's on welfare, automatically he's an ass cuz he wants to lower his C.H. payments to her like all men (payers of child support).
How dare a judge presume to assume.
It's not good to assume, you won't make an ass out yourself.
But to presume or assume is suggesting or projecting like a psycic or a palm reader.

Les G.
screwed in
Albuquerque,NM