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1561 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 174 Quhilk claus is adjectit to mak the mair cleir probatioun presumptive.

1593 R. Cosin Apol. for Sundrie Proc. (rev. ed.) ii. vii. 63 If he had bin conuicted either vpon his owne confession, or by witnesses; and not alone per Indicia; that is, but by presumtiue proofes, or probable Euidences.

1685–6 in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. IV. 87 The evidences against him were very many, and the circumstances very numerous and presumptive.

1691 T. Brown Weesil Trap'd 9 Hang and Draw for an Offence, On meer presumptive Evidence.

1732 T. Cooke Let. to Archbishop of Canterbury 41 It will be a presumptive Evidence against them of their being influenced by some Motives contrary to Reason or Virtue.

1766 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. II. xiii. 197 The presumptive evidence of that right is strongly in favour of his antagonist.

1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry I. ii. ii. 57 Of late years, it has ceased to be presumptive evidence, at least what the lawyers call violent presumption, of philosophical attainments, to be a member [of the American Philosophical Society].

1817 W. Selwyn Abridgem. Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 1028 That will be presumptive against him, that he made that return, unless he shews the contrary.

1850 H. Melville White-jacket xxviii. 141 The weather encountered might be accounted pretty good presumptive proof.

1895 Pitt-Taylor's Law Evid. (ed. 9) I. v. 69 Presumptive evidence is usually divided into two branches, namely, presumptions of law, and presumptions of fact.

1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 74/2 Seven years' absence with no sign of life either by letter or message is held presumptive evidence of death in the law courts.

1967 W. Goldschmidt Sebei Law i. iii. 55 Refusal to have intercourse with husband (which would be presumptive evidence that a woman is regularly engaging in adultery).

1999 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 30 June d7/5 The Tour withdrew its invitation to the Italian team..when one of its stars failed a blood test, a presumptive sign of drug use.