Etymologically
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supposer

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 14:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /sy.po.ze/[1]

Forms

supposer[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin suppōnō (“to put under; to substitute; to subject”), with its form adapted to poser.[2][3][4][5][1][6] The Latin verb is from sub (“under”) and pōnō (“to put, place”) (see pondre).[3][7] The sense “to assume” developed in French, or in Medieval Latin after the grammarians' “suppositivus” “hypothetical”, a calque of Ancient Greek ὑποθετικός (hupothetikós), Bloch and Wartburg think the verb took it from “supposition”.[2][3][4][5]

Compare Spanish suponer, Portuguese supor and Italian sopporre.[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Psautier d'Oxford (mid-12th century) has it in the concrete Latin sense “to place under”, which lasted until the early 17th century (Stoer, 1628).[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In Old French it also meant to subject to a jurisdiction (1278).[3] From about 1270–80 it meant to presume or conjecture (Clef d'Amour), and to posit as a hypothesis, first with an attribute (supposer le problème résolu); supposé que is found about 1330 (Guillaume de Digulleville).[2][3] Oresme (1370) uses it for “to require as a necessary condition”: elettion … suppose liberté et prudence.[2][8] From Latin law came “to substitute” (1520) and “to pass off as genuine” (1538), as in supposer un testament or supposer un enfant (1552).[2][5][7]

Timeline

  • c. 1120 – “To place under”, Psautier d'Oxford.[4]
  • 1278 – To subject to a jurisdiction.[3]
  • 1280 – “To conjecture”, Clef d'Amour.[2]
  • c. 1330 – Supposé que.[2]
  • 1370 – To imply, Oresme.[2]
  • 1538 – To pass off as genuine, Robert Estienne.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To suppose, assume as a hypothesis: supposons que vous ayez raison, à supposer que, en supposant que.[9][1]
  2. To presume, think likely: je suppose qu'il viendra.[1][8]
  3. To imply, require as a condition: le succès suppose du travail.[2][1]
  4. To attribute (a quality) to someone: vous me supposez un crédit que je n'ai pas.[8]
  5. (law) To substitute fraudulently, pass off as genuine: supposer un testament.[2][5]

Word family

  • supposé
  • supposable
  • présupposer
  • présupposition

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 8, 72b
  7. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert