Adjacent Words

Presumption of fact definitions

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Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Presumption Pre*sump"tion (?; 215), n. [L. praesumptio: cf. F. pr['e]somption, OF. also presumpcion. See Presume.] 1. The act of presuming, or believing upon probable evidence; the act of assuming or taking for granted; belief upon incomplete proof. 2. Ground for presuming; evidence probable, but not conclusive; strong probability; reasonable supposition; as, the presumption is that an event has taken place. 3. That which is presumed or assumed; that which is supposed or believed to be real or true, on evidence that is probable but not conclusive. ``In contradiction to these very plausible presumptions.'' --De Quincey. 4. The act of venturing beyond due beyond due bounds; an overstepping of the bounds of reverence, respect, or courtesy; forward, overconfident, or arrogant opinion or conduct; presumptuousness; arrogance; effrontery. Thy son I killed for his presumption. --Shak. I had the presumption to dedicate to you a very unfinished piece. --Dryden. Conclusive presumption. See under Conclusive. Presumption of fact (Law), an argument of a fact from a fact; an inference as to the existence of one fact not certainly known, from the existence of some other fact known or proved, founded on a previous experience of their connection; supposition of the truth or real existence of something, without direct or positive proof of the fact, but grounded on circumstantial or probable evidence which entitles it to belief. --Burrill. --Best. --Wharton. Presumption of law (Law), a postulate applied in advance to all cases of a particular class; e. g., the presumption of innocence and of regularity of records. Such a presumption is rebuttable or irrebuttable.