suppose

Where does the word "suppose" come from? It comes from Latin sub ponere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Suppose’s story begins in Latin: sub ponere meant “to put under.” To put under, to substitute, from sub- (under) and ponere (to place). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as supposer. Carried into French for assuming something to be true. It reached English by 1300s as suppose. Settled as the English word for assuming something without proof. Today, suppose means to assume that something is true, without certain knowledge.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sub ponere "to put under", to put under, to substitute, from sub- (under) and ponere (to place).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval supposer "to assume something to be true", carried into French for assuming something to be true.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s suppose "to assume something without proof", settled as the English word for assuming something without proof.