Literary notes about Assume (AI summary)
The term "assume" displays a fascinating range of uses in literature. Authors employ it to indicate the act of taking on a role, form, or character—often almost magically transforming oneself or an appearance [1, 2, 3]—while it is equally effective in conveying the idea of presupposing or accepting something without direct evidence [4, 5, 6]. It also frequently marks the adoption of a particular attitude, responsibility, or even a state of being, as seen when characters adopt airs of dignity or self-assurance [7, 8, 9, 10]. In more technical or scientific contexts, the word sets the stage for hypotheses or stipulated conditions that allow discussions or arguments to advance [11, 12, 13].
- Now with thine own illusive art Perform, O Lord, the helper's part: Assume a dwarfish form, and thus From fear and danger rescue us.”
— from The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Valmiki - And every one of you will be able at will to assume any form he likes!
— from The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 - Wicked spirits often assume the appearance of good fairies.
— from Little Folks (September 1884) by Various - Naming our thought by its own objects, we almost all of us assume that as the objects are, so the thought must be.
— from The Principles of Psychology, Volume 1 (of 2) by William James - We assume that all conceive of them in the same way; but we assume it quite gratuitously, for we have no proof of it.
— from Pascal's Pensées by Blaise Pascal - But have we any right to assume that things have thus remained from eternity?
— from On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin - I assume sole and complete responsibility for this book and would be glad to hear the comment or complaint of any reader.
— from Psychological Warfare by Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger - I looked as grateful as any boy possibly could, who was wholly uninformed why he ought to assume that expression.
— from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - At least, therefore, I did not assume the character of needless precipitance merely to show off before the ladies.”
— from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Valancourt struggled to assume a composed air.
— from The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Ward Radcliffe - Assume that there are ten in each instrument, and that the switch in each is in its lower position.
— from How it Works by Archibald Williams - "Assume the population of the world to be only one million.
— from Amusements in Mathematics by Henry Ernest Dudeney - This seems to assume 55 benches, i.e., 28 on one side and 27 on the other, which with 3-banked oars would give 165 rowers.
— from The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Marco Polo and da Pisa Rusticiano
