Also 4–5 supposaile, 4–6 -ail, 5–7 -all, 6 -ell, 7 -eall. [a. OF. supposail(l)e, f. supposer to SUPPOSE: see -AL 5.]
† 1. The action of supposing, supposition: esp. in phr. upon supposal (of or that …); also by, upon supposal, as is (or was) supposed, supposedly.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 344. We mai seie bi supposal, þat we gesse þat it is so.
1553. Act 1 Mary, Sess. II. c. 1. § 2. Matters of no strengthe or effecte, but onelye by supposall.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng., III. ii. (1609), 102. Complaint to the Chancellour vpon supposall of losse, or lacke of euidence.
1589. Puttenham, Engl. Poesie, I. xxvi. (Arb.), 66. Praising and commending (by supposall) the good conformities of them both.
1592. in J. Morris, Troubles Cath. Forefathers (1877), 29. It pleased God … that this journey turned her to the restoring of her health, whereas by supposal his [sc. the magistrate’s] sending for her was only of purpose that thereby she might have died.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., I. vi. § 2 (1622), 41. Vpon supposall, that There is a God.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Lib. Proph., xx. 250. The supposall and pretence of his personall Prerogatives.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 684. I have told you that the said Archb. Williams was, upon supposal, buried at Aberconway.
1692. Patrick, Answ. Touchstone, 97. God absolves by his Ministers; who cannot see into men’s hearts; and therefore can only pronounce, that he absolves them … upon supposal of their unfeigned Repentance.
a. 1734. North, Lives (1826), II. 396. The magistrate seizes all … upon supposal of the party’s having cheated the state.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), IV. 110. All such relevant articles … as lie within his own custody, power, knowledge, or supposal.
1839. Sir W. Hamilton, Discuss. (1852), 202. There is no possible room for the supposal of any change.
2. An act of supposing; something that is supposed; a supposition, hypothesis; an assumption, conjecture. Now rare.
† By supposals: as may be supposed.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, III. iii. (Skeat), l. 129. I am comforted bee my supposaile in blisse, and in joy to determine after my desires.
1440. in Wars Eng. in France (Rolls), II. 459. This supposaille it ne is not greetly to be feered.
1511. in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 325. There have bene greate variannce now of late … and by supposails in likwise to be in tyme commynge.
1593. Bilson, Govt. Christ’s Ch., 239. From this supposall these three conclusions are drawen.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell., i. (1628), 12. As touching their names, of Germans and Almans sundry supposals haue bin made.
1644. J. Goodwin, Innoc. Triumph. (1645), 68. This is but petitio Principii, a supposall of that which is the main Question.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Mandelslo’s Trav., 162. Upon a false supposal, that between Indus and Ganges there were thirty degrees, whereas there are scarce ten.
1710[?]. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett., to Mrs. Hewet (1887), I. 28. I am … in hopes we shall return … the latter end of the year; but all that is supposals, and I have no ground to believe it.
1730. Fielding, Rape upon Rape, III. xi. Mrs. Squeez … I cannot say but I have a generous Pity for any one whom I imagine to be accused wrongfully. Ramble. I am obliged to you indeed, Madam, for that Supposal.
1757. Warburton, Unpubl. Papers (1841), 315. The supposal of another necessarily existent Being is adding to infinitude.
1885. Academy, 25 July, 61/3. A … division of categorical judgments into those which involve a supposal and those which do not.
1891. Hall Caine, Scapegoat, xiv. The Kaid … according to their supposals, had called on him to correct what he had done amiss.
† 3. A notion, opinion. Obs.
1589. Fleming, Virg. Ecl., X. Argt. 29. If we may beleeve the supposall of Servius.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. ii. 18. Holding a weake supposall of our worth; Or thinking … Our State to be disioynt, and out of Frame.
1612. Cotta, Disc. Dang. Pract. Phys., II. i. 76. Methodians … arrogated this name unto themselves in the best sense, as onely in their owne supposall meriting the title of true art and method.
† 4. A suggestion, proposal. Obs.
1715. M. Davies, Athen. Brit., I. Pref. 27. A Syncronical half-sheet, stil’d, The Proposal,… the primitive Title is much plainer, thus, The Supposal: Or, A New Scheme of Government.
1747. Richardson, Clarissa, I. xxii. 149. I suppose it is the way of this sex to endeavour to entangle the thoughtless of ours, by bold supposals and offers.
† 5. A statement, allegation (as in a writ or indictment). Cf. SUPPOSE v. 11. Obs.
1429. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 346/1. That … the partie that seweth have juggement to recovere his dette ayeinst the seide Cominaltes, after the supposell of here Writtes.
1531. Dial. on Laws Eng., F iv b. Whervpon foloweth a false supposel in the writte, and a false supposell in the declaratyon.
1602. Fulbecke, Pandectes, 14. An attainder … shal haue relation to the time of the felony done, according to the supposall of the inditement.
1651. trans. Kitchin’s Courts Leet (1653), 477. He need not take traverse that it is not frank fee, for that, that the Writ is but a Supposall.
