To assume is to accept something as true without proof, or to take on a role, duty, or appearance.
It comes from Latin *assumere*, meaning 'to take up' or 'to adopt', from *ad-* 'to' and *sumere* 'to take'. The idea of 'taking up' a belief or a role led to both modern senses.
When you 'assume', you’re quietly picking up a belief and carrying it with you, often without noticing. Spotting your assumptions is like checking what you’re holding in your mental backpack—you might find things you never meant to pack.
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