The spelling of the word "presumption" may seem tricky, but it is actually quite simple when broken down phonetically. The word is pronounced /prɪˈzʌmpʃən/ which indicates the presence of a schwa sound in the second syllable ("-um-") and the use of the letters "-ti-" to represent the "sh" sound ("presump-"). The initial "p" followed by the letter "r" is also common in English words, such as "president" and "prime".
Presumption is a noun that refers to the act of assuming something without proof or evidence. It involves making an inference or judgement based on limited information or on one's own beliefs, often without considering opposing viewpoints or considering alternative explanations. Presumption can also imply an overconfidence in one's own knowledge or understanding, resulting in a tendency to jump to conclusions without sufficient justification.
In legal contexts, presumption refers to the acceptance of a fact or situation as true unless proven otherwise. This means that unless evidence is presented to the contrary, the court will assume that certain facts or circumstances exist. Legal presumptions are based on common or statutory law and are employed to streamline the judicial process by allowing for the efficient resolution of cases.
Presumption can also refer to an attitude of arrogance or entitlement, where one assumes or believes they are entitled to certain privileges or rights even without a valid reason or justification. This can manifest in an individual assuming authority or making decisions without proper authorization or qualifications.
Overall, presumption involves assuming or accepting something as true or valid without sufficient evidence or justification. It can be a cognitive bias that affects decision-making and can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, or incorrect conclusions if not critically examined or challenged.
A supposition previously formed; confidence grounded on strong probability; an argument strong but not demonstrative; blind or headstrong confidence; arrogance.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "presumption" traces back to the Latin word "praesumptio" which is derived from the verb "praesumere". "Praesumere" is a combination of two Latin words: "prae" meaning "before" or "in advance", and "sumere" meaning "to take" or "to seize". Thus, the word "presumption" originally meant to take or seize before, to take something for granted, or to come to a conclusion without sufficient evidence. Over time, the word evolved to its current meaning of an act or instance of presuming or assuming something to be true without actual proof.