Definition of presuppose

The word "presuppose" derives from Latin origin. The Latin word "praesupposere" is the root of this English term. "Praes" in Latin means "before," and "supposere" translates to "place" or "put." Thus, the literal meaning of "praesupposere" is "to place or put beforehand." In the Middle Ages, the term "presuppositions" referred to the concepts that must exist before other ideas could be considered valid. This meaning is still present in modern language, as "presuppose" often suggests that one idea or statement implicitly assumes another idea or statement to be true. The modern English word "presuppose" emerged during the late 16th century, replacing its old variant "presuppose." Its meaning was more focused on implying or assuming something before explicitly stating it. Over time, this usage became widely accepted and has remained consistent in modern English. Overall, the term "presuppose" signifies a preliminary or implicit acceptance or assumption of a particular notion or proposition, implying that this idea must exist or be true before further arguments or ideas can be considered valid.