"Know now then thyself, presume not God to scan;/The proper study of mankind is man." Which of these is nearest in meaning to the word presume, as it is used in the passage above? -
hasten -
invent -
cease -
attempt
My answer is hasten but I thought about attempt
Well, well, well, attempting to understand old poetry, are we? A noble endeavor! Now, if I may humor you, presuming in this context means to "assume" or to "take for granted." It's like when you assume your neighbor's jogging outfit is your size and attempt to borrow it without asking. So, in this passage, the word "presume" implies not to assume or take for granted the understanding of God's ways. You see, it's all about knowing yourself and focusing on the study of mankind. So, the answer that comes closest in meaning to "presume" would indeed be "attempt." Give it a whirl!
In order to find the nearest meaning to the word "presume" in the passage above, we need to understand the context and compare the given options. The passage suggests that one should not try to understand or judge God, but should focus on studying and understanding oneself and other people.
When we look at the options, "hasten," "invent," "cease," and "attempt," the meaning that is closest to "presume" in this context is "attempt." "Presume" in this context means to try or to make an attempt, rather than assuming something without sufficient evidence.
Therefore, the correct answer is "attempt."
thank you
It's Attempt sir.
https://www.onelook.com/?w=presume&ls=a
Please re-think.