1. Quickly; immediately; in haste; suddenly.
Presto! begone! 'tis here again.
Swift. 2. (Mus.) Quickly; rapidly; — a direction for a quick, lively movement or performance; quicker than allegro,
or any rate of time except prestissimo.
Prestriction
(Pre*stric"tion) n. [L. praestrictio a binding fast, fr. praestringere. See Pre-, and Stringent.]
Obstruction, dimness, or defect of sight. [Obs.] Milton.
Presultor
(Pre*sul"tor) n. [L. praesultor; prae before + salire to dance.] A leader in the dance. [R.]
Presumable
(Pre*sum"a*ble) a. [Cf. F. présumable.] Such as may be presumed or supposed to be
true; that seems entitled to belief without direct evidence.
Presumably
(Pre*sum"a*bly), adv. In a presumable manner; by, or according to, presumption.
Presume
(Pre*sume") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Presumed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Presuming.] [F. présumer, L.
praesumere, praesumptum; prae before + sumere to take. See Assume, Redeem.]
1. To assume or take beforehand; esp., to do or undertake without leave or authority previously obtained.
Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?
Shak.
Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve.
Milton. 2. To take or suppose to be true, or entitled to belief, without examination or proof, or on the strength of
probability; to take for granted; to infer; to suppose.
Every man is to be presumed innocent till he is proved to be guilty.
Blackstone.
What rests but that the mortal sentence pass, . . .
Which he presumes already vain and void,
Because
not yet inflicted?
Milton. Presume
(Pre*sume"), v. i.
1. To suppose or assume something to be, or to be true, on grounds deemed valid, though not amounting
to proof; to believe by anticipation; to infer; as, we may presume too far.
2. To venture, go, or act, by an assumption of leave or authority not granted; to go beyond what is warranted
by the circumstances of the case; to venture beyond license; to take liberties; — often with on or upon
before the ground of confidence.
Do not presume too much upon my love.
Shak.
This man presumes upon his parts.
Locke. Presumedly
(Pre*sum"ed*ly), adv. By presumption.
Presumer
(Pre*sum"er) n. One who presumes; also, an arrogant person. Sir H. Wotton.
Presumingly
(Pre*sum"ing*ly), adv. Confidently; arrogantly.
Presumption
(Pre*sump"tion) n. [L. praesumptio: cf. F. présomption, 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.
