présumées

Présumées is the feminine plural form of the adjective présumé, or the feminine plural past participle of présumer, used to describe things or people that are believed or asserted without conclusive proof. As a modifier, présumées agrees in gender and number with the noun it qualifies, for example des suspects présumés, des victimes présumées, or des personnes présumées innocentes.

Etymology and meaning: présumer comes from the Latin praesumere, meaning to take beforehand or to suppose. In contemporary usage, présumé conveys a status assumed or asserted in the absence of final verification. The word is common in legal, administrative, media, and everyday language.

Usage in law and journalism: In legal contexts, the phrase is used to indicate a stance that has not yet been confirmed by evidence, such as des suspects présumés ou des innocents présumés jusqu’à ce que leur culpabilité soit établie. In journalism, présumées often appears in reporting about allegations, for example des accusations présumées, des complices présumés, signaling that the claims require proof and that due process should be observed. The formulation aims to balance clarity with the presumption of innocence.

Implications and caution: The use of présumées can influence perception, potentially shaping public opinion before a verdict. Journalists and officials are advised to use precise language, avoid excessive repetition, and distinguish between what is alleged and what is proven.

See also: présomption, présumer, innocence.