presumption

Noun

presumption (countable and uncountable, plural presumptions)

1. The act of presuming, or something presumed.
   • Yet, in contradiction to all these very plausible presumptions, even this remote period teems with its own peculiar and separate instruction.1832, Thomas De Quincey, “James's History of Charlemagne”, in Blackwood's Magazine
2. The belief of something based upon reasonable evidence, or upon something known to be true.
   • The presumption is that an event has taken place.
   • I have here imputed the Continuance of the War to the mutual Indulgence between our General and Allies, wherein they both so well found their Accounts; to the Fears of the Mony-changers, left their Tables should be overthrown; to the Designs of the Whigs, who apprehended the Loss of their Credit...1711 December 8 (Gregorian calendar), [Jonathan Swift], The Conduct of the Allies, and of the Late Ministry, in Beginning and Carrying on the Present War, 4th edition, London: […] John Morphew […]...
3. The condition upon which something is presumed.
4. (dated) Arrogant behaviour; the act of venturing beyond due bounds of reverence or respect.
   • Note the preſumption of this Scythian ſlaue:
     I tel thee villaine, thoſe that lead my horſe
     Haue to their names tytles of dignitie,
     And dar’ſt thou bluntly cal me Baiazeth?c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC...
   • Thy son I killed for his presumption.c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard...
5. An inference that a trier of fact is either permitted or required to draw under certain factual circumstances (as prescribed by statute or case law) unless the party against whom the inference is drawn is able to rebut it with admissible, competent evidence.
   • The state, in the exercise of its general power to prescribe rules of evidence, may provide that proof of a particular fact, or of several facts taken collectively, shall be prima facie evidence of another fact when there is some rational connection between the fact proved and the ultimate fact...Bandini Petroleum Co. v. Superior Court, 284 U.S. 8, 18–19 (1931)