rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: prae-
Latin

prae-

before, in front of

Forms

  • prae-
  • pre- — The usual English form, often transmitted through French.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *prai, ‘before,’ related to an older family of words for forward position.

Note

The same relationship can locate something earlier in time or ahead in space.

77 / 94
A likely tournament winner stands beside a provisional bracket while the final match remains pending.
adjective

presumptive

prih-ZUMP-tiv/prɪˈzʌmptɪv/

Based on reasonable expectation rather than certainty.

Etymology
preLatinbefore, in front of
+sumptLatintake or take up
+iveLatinhaving a quality or tendency

“Taking beforehand” became accepting something on probable evidence. Presumptive describes a conclusion treated as reasonable before final proof, rather than one already established as certain.

Full entry

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