Sup*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supposed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Supposing.] [F. supposer; pref. sub- under + poser to place; -- corresponding in meaning to L. supponere, suppositum, to put under, to substitute, falsify, counterfeit. See Pose.]

"1. To represent to ones self, or state to another, not as true or real, but as if so, and with a view to some consequence or application which the reality would involve or admit of; to imagine or admit to exist, for the sake of argument or illustration; to assume to be true; as, let us suppose the earth to be the center of the system, what would be the result?"

Suppose they take offence without a cause. Shak.

When we have as great assurance that a thing is, as we could possibly, supposing it were, we ought not to make any doubt of its existence. Tillotson.

2. To imagine; to believe; to receive as true.

How easy is a bush supposed a bear! Shak.

"Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the kings sons; for Amnon only is dead." 2 Sam. xiii. 32.

3. To require to exist or to be true; to imply by the laws of thought or of nature; as, purpose supposes foresight.

One falsehood always supposes another, and renders all you can say suspected. Female Quixote.

4. To put by fraud in the place of another. [Obs.]

Syn. -- To imagine; believe; conclude; judge; consider; view; regard; conjecture; assume.

Sup*pose" (?), v. i. To make supposition; to think; to be of opinion. Acts ii. 15.

Sup*pose" , n. Supposition. [Obs.] Shak. "A base suppose that he is honest." Dryden.

-- Webster's unabridged 1913