All 4 Uses
presume
in
The Girl on the Train
(Edited)
- They're only looking at the husband, presumably because they don't know about the boyfriend.
p. 79.1presumably = probablystandard suffix: The suffix "-ably" is a combination of the suffixes "-able" and "-ly". It means in a manner that is capable of being. This is the same pattern you see in words like agreeably, favorably, and comfortably.
- Scott, presumably.
p. 82.7
- The boyfriend's name is not given, so presumably they haven't found him.
p. 108.8
- That's what they're saying: Megan killed her baby, which would give someone—the father of the child, presumably-a motive to kill her.
p. 252.1 *
Definitions:
-
(1)
(presume as in: presumption of innocence) to think of something as true or likely, even though it is not known with certaintySomething can be presumed because it seems reasonable or because there is a rule or law demanding such an assumption. For example, in the United States someone charged with a crime is presumed by law to be innocent unless they are proven guilty at a trial.
-
(2)
(presumptuous as in: she is presumptuous) exercising privileges to which one is not entitled -- such as being too familiar or too bossy
- (3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)