presumption

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The act of presuming, or something presumed.

   “Yet, in contradiction to all these very plausible presumptions, even this remote period teems with its own peculiar and separate instruction.”

2. (countable, uncountable)The belief of something based upon reasonable evidence, or upon something known to be true.

   “The presumption is that an event has taken place.”

   “I have here imputed the Continuance of the War to the mutual Indulgence between our General and Allies, wherein they both so well found their Accounts; to the Fears of the Mony-changers, left their Tables should be overthrown; to the Designs of the Whigs, who apprehended the Loss of their Credit and Employments in a Peace; and to those at home, who held their immoderate Engrossments of Power and Favour, by no other Tenure than their own Presumption upon the Necessity of Affairs.”

3. (countable, uncountable)The condition upon which something is presumed.
4. (countable, dated, uncountable)Arrogant behaviour; the act of venturing beyond due bounds of reverence or respect.

   “Note the preſumption of this Scythian ſlaue: I tel thee villaine, thoſe that lead my horſe Haue to their names tytles of dignitie, And dar’ſt thou bluntly cal me Baiazeth?”

   “Thy son I killed for his presumption.”

   “[…]yet even then, I had the preſumption to Dedicate to your Lordſhip: A very unfiniſh'd Piece […]”

   ““Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?””

   ““If I had not persuaded Harriet into liking the man, I could have borne any thing. He might have doubled his presumption to me—but poor Harriet!””

5. (countable, uncountable)An inference that a trier of fact is either permitted or required to draw under certain factual circumstances (as prescribed by statute or case law) unless the party against whom the inference is drawn is able to rebut it with admissible, competent evidence.