assumption
UK[əˈsʌmpʃn]US[əˈsʌmpʃn]
n
something that you accept as true without question or proof
n
the act of taking or beginning to have power, responsibility, or a particular quality
Morpheme Breakdown
as
sumpt
ion
as
to, towards
sumpt
to take, to consume
ion
Etymology
the word 'assumption' entered english in the late 13th century via old french from the latin noun 'assumptio', which derives from the verb 'assumere'. 'Assumere' itself is a compound of the prefix 'ad-' (meaning 'to') and the verb 'sumere' (meaning 'to take, to consume'), which originates from the proto-indo-european root em- (to take). the core literal meaning of 'taking to oneself' evolved along two primary paths. one path, rooted in christian theology, referred to the taking up of the virgin mary into heaven, giving the word its specialized religious sense. the other, more general path, abstracted the idea of 'taking' to mean 'taking for granted' or 'taking on a role or attribute', which led to its modern meanings of an accepted premise or the act of taking on power or responsibility.
Analysis
Structure: as + sumpt + ion
as- (variant of 'ad-'), latin origin, prefix meaning 'to, towards'.
sumpt, from latin 'sumpt-', stem of 'sumere', meaning 'to take, to consume'.
-ion, latin origin, suffix forming nouns indicating an action or process, or the result thereof.
Examples
the calculation is based on the assumption that prices will continue to rise.
her assumption of the presidency marked a new era for the company.
we are working on the assumption that the meeting is still scheduled for friday.