presumptuous, a.
(prɪˈzʌm(p)tjuːəs)
Also 4 -somptuose, 5 -sumptuose, (-suis), 5–6 -tuouse, -tuows(e.
[a. OF. presuntuex (12th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), presumptuoux, mod.F. présomptueux, ad. L. præsumptuōsus, late variant of the regular præsumptiōsus presumptious, perh. influenced by sumptuōsus, f. sumptus (u-stem).]
1. Characterized by presumption in opinion or conduct; unduly confident or bold; arrogant, presuming; forward, impertinent.
| c 1350 Medit. de Passione Dom. in Hampole's Wks. (1896) I. 92 Neuere to be presumptuous ne proud of þi ȝiftis. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 412/2 Presumptuowse, or bolde, or malapert (P. ouer bolde), presumptuosus. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 84 Suppose a knycht wald be..sa presumptuous that he wald assailȝe ane hundreth knychtis him allane. 1535 Coverdale Dan. vii. 20 A mouth speakynge presumptuous thinges. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, i. i. 157 'Tis not thy Southerne power..Which makes thee thus presumptuous and prowd. 1635 Quarles Embl., Hieroglyph i, That glorious, that presumptuous thing, call'd man. 1673 O. Walker Educ. (1677) 108 Such persons..if not well regulated become scornful and presumtuous. 1777 Robertson Hist. Amer. II. v. 82 Narvaez, no less brave in action than presumptuous in conduct, armed himself in haste. 1810 Scott Lady of L. i. xi, The tower which builders vain Presumptuous piled on Shinar's plain. 1881 P. Brooks Candle of Lord 299 It is almost as presumptuous to think you can do nothing as to think you can do everything. |
† 2. = presumptive 2. Obs. rare.
| a 1639 Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. v. (1677) 226 A number of presumptuous likelihoods and conjectures, to make it appear she was privy to the Murther. 1653 A. Wilson Jas. I 285 Suspected of being poisoned; the Symptoms being very presumptuous. |
† 3. That assumes beforehand; anticipative. Obs. rare—1. (But referred by Puttenham to sense 1.)
| 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xix. (Arb.) 239 This figure was called the presumptuous. I will also call him the figure of presupposall or the preuenter. [Marginal note: Procatalepsis, or the presumptuous, otherwise the figure of Presupposall.] |