Definition of the word presume upon

The phrase "presume upon" dates back to the Middle English period, around the 14th century. The origins of this expression can be traced back to the Old French verb "previndre," which means "to come beforehand," "to anticipate," or "to take for granted." The Old French verb "previndre" gave birth to the Middle English word "prevenen," which means "to precede" or "to come before." Over time, the meaning of this word evolved to include the idea of taking something for granted or assuming something without any justification. By the 15th century, "prevenen" had become "preven" in Middle English. This version of the word was used to express the idea of making a presumption or taking liberties with someone, especially someone of higher social status. The phrase "preven upon" eventually evolved into "presume upon," which is still commonly used in modern English to mean "to assume too much" or "to take liberties." In summary, the word "presume upon" can be traced back to the Middle English period, where it evolved from the Old French verb "previndre" and the Middle English word "prevenen." Its origin lies in the idea of taking something for granted, making a presumption, or taking liberties with someone.