Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Presumption \Pre*sump"tion\ (?; 215), n. [L. praesumptio: cf. F.
pr['e]somption, OF. also presumpcion. See {Presume}.]
1. The act of presuming, or believing upon probable evidence;
the act of assuming or taking for granted; belief upon
incomplete proof.
2. Ground for presuming; evidence probable, but not
conclusive; strong probability; reasonable supposition;
as, the presumption is that an event has taken place.
3. That which is presumed or assumed; that which is supposed
or believed to be real or true, on evidence that is
probable but not conclusive. ``In contradiction to these
very plausible presumptions.'' --De Quincey.
4. The act of venturing beyond due beyond due bounds; an
overstepping of the bounds of reverence, respect, or
courtesy; forward, overconfident, or arrogant opinion or
conduct; presumptuousness; arrogance; effrontery.
Thy son I killed for his presumption. --Shak.
I had the presumption to dedicate to you a very
unfinished piece. --Dryden.
{Conclusive presumption}. See under {Conclusive}.
{Presumption of fact} (Law), an argument of a fact from a
fact; an inference as to the existence of one fact not
certainly known, from the existence of some other fact
known or proved, founded on a previous experience of their
connection; supposition of the truth or real existence of
something, without direct or positive proof of the fact,
but grounded on circumstantial or probable evidence which
entitles it to belief. --Burrill. --Best. --Wharton.
{Presumption of law} (Law), a postulate applied in advance to
all cases of a particular class; e. g., the presumption of
innocence and of regularity of records. Such a presumption
is rebuttable or irrebuttable.
Conclusive \Con*clu"sive\, a. [Cf. F. conclusif.]
Belonging to a close or termination; decisive; convincing;
putting an end to debate or question; leading to, or
involving, a conclusion or decision.
Secret reasons . . . equally conclusive for us as they
were for them. --Rogers.
{Conclusive evidence} (Law), that of which, from its nature,
the law allows no contradiction or explanation.
{Conclusive presumption} (Law), an inference which the law
makes so peremptorily that it will not allow it to be
overthrown by any contrary proof, however strong.
Syn: Final; ultimate; unanswerable. See {Final}.