- 1
When something is presumptive, you are treating it as true because that is the fair, likely reading — not because it has been fully proved.
When something is presumptive當一件事是presumptive（推定的）, you are treating it as true你把它當作是真的, because that is the fair, likely reading因為那是合理、可能性高的判斷, not because it has been fully proved而不是因為已經完全被證實.
A doctor may give a presumptive name to an illness after seeing the signs, then wait for tests. A court may call evidence presumptive when it is strong enough to go forward, though it could still be wrong.
A doctor may give a presumptive name to an illness醫生可能會先給一個病presumptive（推定的）病名, after seeing the signs看到症狀之後, then wait for tests再等檢驗結果. A court may call evidence presumptive法院可能會說某項證據是presumptive的, when it is strong enough to go forward只要它夠有力可以讓案子往下走, though it could still be wrong雖然還是有可能是錯的.
The word is formal: you meet it in law, medicine, and careful writing, not in chat.
The word is formal這個字是正式用語: you meet it in law, medicine, and careful writing你會在法律、醫學和嚴謹的文章裡遇到它, not in chat而不是在閒聊裡.
Though actually, the most famous special use is royal: an heir presumptive is the person expected to get the crown unless a baby with a stronger claim is born. That is not the same as an heir apparent, whose place cannot be taken by a new birth.
Though actually不過其實, the most famous special use is royal最有名的特別用法跟王室有關: an heir presumptive推定繼承人（heir presumptive） is the person expected to get the crown是指預期會得到王位的人 unless a baby with a stronger claim is born除非有一個繼承權更強的嬰兒出生. That is not the same as an heir apparent這跟heir apparent（法定繼承人）不一樣, whose place cannot be taken by a new birth他的繼承地位不會因為有新生兒而被取代.
And it is not the same as presumptuous, which means rude and too bold. The two words share old Latin family, but they took different roads.
And it is not the same as presumptuous而且這跟presumptuous也不一樣, which means rude and too bold意思是無禮、太過大膽. The two words share old Latin family這兩個字有共同的古拉丁字根, but they took different roads但後來走上了不同的路.
組成Built from pre- (“before”) + Latin sūmptus (“taken”) + -ive (makes an adjective). It came through Late Latin praesumptivus, from praesūmō, “to take something as true beforehand.”
同家族的字
- presumethe verb: to take something as true before it is proved
- presumptionthe noun: that act or habit of taking it as true
- presumptivelythe adverb form of this same word
- presumptuoussame Latin root, but the meaning went another way: rude and too bold
原始詞典資料5 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
presumptiveadj/pɹɪˈzʌm(p)tɪv/
- 1
Based on presumption or conjecture; inferred, likely, presumed.
- By late May, he was already considered his party’s presumptive nominee.
- Hovv delightfully vvould your time have been taken up vvith the appeals of ſcolding vvives, forſaken damſels and vvitches preſumptive!
- 2
Based on presumption or conjecture; inferred, likely, presumed.
- The Queen’s younger brother was the heir presumptive to the throne, until she gave birth to her first child.
- [B]y lavv no inheritance can veſt, nor can any perſon be the actual complete heir of another, till the anceſtor is previouſly dead. Nemo eſt haeres viventis [No one is the heir of the living]. Before that time the perſon vvho is next in the line of ſucceſſion is called an heir apparent, or heir preſumptive. […] Heirs preſumptive are ſuch, vvho, if the anceſtor ſhould die immediately, vvould in the preſent circumſtances of things be the heirs; but vvhoſe right of inheritance may be defeated by the contingency of ſome nearer heir being born: as a brother, or nephevv, vvhoſe preſumptive ſucceſſion may be deſtroyed by the birth of a child; or a daugher, vvhoſe preſent hopes may be hereafter cut off by the birth of a ſon. Nay, even if the eſtate hath deſcended, by the death of the ovvner, to ſuch brother, or nephevv, or daughter; in the former caſes the eſtate ſhall be deveſted and taken avvay by the birth of a poſthumous child; and, in the latter, it ſhall alſo be totally deveſted by the birth of a poſthumous ſon.
- 3
embryologymedicinesciencesBased on presumption or conjecture; inferred, likely, presumed.
- 4
Synonym of presumptuous (“making unwarranted presumptions or assumptions, often out of arrogance or excessive self-confidence, and thus exceeding what is appropriate or right”).
- Forgive me for being presumptive, but aren’t you and Mark engaged?
- There being therefore tvvo opinions repugnant unto each other, it may not be preſumptive or skepticall in me to doubt of both, and becauſe vve remaine imperfect in the generall theory of Colours, vvee ſhall deliver at preſent a ſhort diſcovery of blacknes, vvherein although perhaps vve afford no greater ſatisfaction then others, yet ſhall our attempts exceed any; for vvee ſhall empirically and ſenſibly diſcourſe hereof, deducing the cauſes of Blackneſſe from ſuch originalls in Nature, as vve doe generally obſerve things are denigrated by Art: […]
- 5
lawChiefly in presumptive evidence: providing a reasonable basis for a certain presumption or conclusion to be drawn.
- The perſon in this ſituation [having a mere right of property without possession or the right of possession of the property] may have the true ultimate property of the lands in himſelf: but by the intervention of certain circumſtances, either by his ovvn negligence, the ſolemn act of his anceſtor, or the determination of a court of juſtice, the preſumptive evidence of that right is ſtrongly in favour of his antagoniſt; vvho has thereby obtained the abſolute right of poſſeſſion.
- Though we had seen no land since leaving Calloa, Cape Horn was said to be somewhere to the West of us; and though there was no positive evidence of the fact, the weather encountered might be accounted pretty good presumptive proof.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。