presumptuous
presumptuous Lexical Profile
presumptuous Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Failing to observe the limits of what is permitted, appropriate, or polite; overstepping proper bounds out of excessive boldness or overconfidence.
"I hope it won't seem presumptuous of me to offer a few suggestions on your manuscript."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with 'presumptive', which means based on probability or serving as a basis for presumption (as in 'presumptive heir'), whereas 'presumptuous' means overstepping the bounds of courtesy or appropriateness. Also watch the spelling and pronunciation: it contains two 'u's (-tu-ous), not 'presumptious'.
• Rhymes for presumptuous
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 14th century from Old French 'presumptuos', from Late Latin 'praesumptuosus' ('full of boldness or audacity'), derived from Latin 'praesumere' ('to take beforehand, anticipate, or take for granted').