Late 15th century (in an earlier sense). From Middle French suppost (French suppôt) a subordinate, subject, vassal, member of an organization or company fulfilling certain functions, a person or thing that helps or supports, follower, supporter, partisan, suppository from post-classical Latin suppositus substitute, deputy, member of a church or religious community, member of a university, use as noun of masculine of classical Latin suppositus, past participle of suppōnere.