Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRE-SUME', v.i.

1. To venture without positive permission; as, we may presume too far. – Bacon.
2. To form confident or arrogant opinions; with on or upon, before the cause of confidence. This man presumes upon his parts. – Locke. I will not presume so far upon myself. – Dryden.
3. To make confident or arrogant attempts. In that we presume to see what is meet and convenient, better than God himself. – Hooker.
4. It has on or upon sometimes before the thing supposed. Luther presumes upon the gift of continency. – Atterbury. It is sometimes followed by of, but improperly.