a. [ad. L. assūmptīvus: see ASSUMPT a. and -IVE.] Characterized by assumption.
1. Characterized by being assumed or taken to oneself. Assumptive arms in Her. (see quot.)
1611. Guillim, Heraldrie, iii. 261. Armes Assumptiue … are such as a man of his proper right may assume as the guerdon of his valorous seruice, with the approbation of his Soueraigne and of the Herauld.
1787. Porny, Heraldry, 11. Assumptive Arms … are taken up by the caprice or fancy of Upstarts.
1831. Landor, Ct. Julian (1846), II. 509. The gaudy trappings of assumptive state.
2. Of the nature of an assumption; taken for granted.
c. 1650. Needham, Case Commonw., 23. As to the Assumptive part of this Objection, which insinuates [etc.].
1837. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., v. (1877), I. 82. A purification of the intellect from all assumptive beliefs.
3. Apt to take to oneself, appropriative.
1829. Westm. Rev., Oct., 490. That plastic species of intellect, which may be termed the assumptive or … assimilative.
4. Apt to take things for granted.
1856. Q. Rev., Sept., 399. The negligent and assumptive habits of the literary biographers.
1882. Hardy, Two on Tower, II. v. 72. A woman’s forethought is so assumptive.
5. Making undue claims, assumptious, arrogant.
1879. Miss Bird, Rocky Mount., 206. An American is nationally assumptive, an Englishman personally so.
1881. Echo, 13 Jan., 2/5. The assumptive tone of the speech.
