▪ I. supposite, n. Now rare.
Also -it.
[ad. L. suppositum, q.v.]
1. Metaph. A being that subsists by itself, an individual thing or person (= substance 2); sometimes, a being in relation to its attributes (= substance 3, subject n. 6); = suppositum 1.
| 1612 Sheldon Serm. at St. Martin's 7 A Christ consisting both of God and man; a perfect supposit, a compleat Person. 1675 R. Burthogge Causa Dei 55 Passions, as Actions are of Persons or Supposites. 1678 Bp. Nicholson Expos. Catech. 192 That Christ is in the Sacrament corporally, Substantially, and perhaps Consubstantially, may have a respect to the subject or Supposite of the Relatum and Correlatum. c 1882 G. M. Hopkins Sermons & Devotional Writings (1959) ii. iii. 146 A person is defined a rational (that is/intellectual) supposit. |
2. Gram. = subject n. 8; also, the antecedent of a relative.
| c 1620 A. Hume Brit. Tongue (1865) 30 We inquyre of that we wald knaw; as, made God man without synne; and in this the supposit of the verb followes the verb. We avoue that quhilk we knaw; as, God made man without sinne; and in this the supposit preceedes the verb. 1677 W. Hughes Man of Sin i. xii. 51 The Relative [whose] referred to the former, not the latter Antecedent..[the Lord] is the only Supposite..to whom it could relate. 1929 tr. St. Thomas Aquinas's Summa contra Gentiles IV. iv. xxxiv. 144 Relative terms, nouns or pronouns, relate to the same supposit. |
▪ II. † supposite, a. Obs. rare.
[ad. L. suppositus, pa. pple. of suppōnĕre to suppone.]
1. a. Placed or situated below.
| 1640 Brome Antipodes i. vi, The people through the whole world of Antipodes..Resemble those to whom they are supposite. |
b. Occupying a lower position or rank; subject.
| 1677 Gale Crt. Gentiles II. iv. 196 Not opposite to God but supposite or subordinate. |
2. Supposed, assumed.
| 1653 R. Baillie Dissuas. Vind. (1655) 21 The supposite and imaginary causes. |