Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Predicate?

\Pred"i*cate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Predicated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Predicating}.] [L. praedicatus, p. p. of praedicare to cry in public, to proclaim. See {Preach}.] 1. To assert to belong to something; to affirm (one thing of another); as, to predicate whiteness of snow. 2. To found; to base. [U.S.] Note: Predicate is sometimes used in the United States for found or base; as, to predicate an argument on certain principles; to predicate a statement on information received. Predicate is a term in logic, and used only in a single case, namely, when we affirm one thing of another. ``Similitude is not predicated of essences or substances, but of figures and qualities only.'' --Cudworth.
\Pred"i*cate\, v. i. To affirm something of another thing; to make an affirmation. --Sir M. Hale.
\Pred"i*cate\, n. [L. praedicatum, neut. of praedicatus, p. p. praedicare: cf. F. pr['e]dicat. See {Predicate}, v. t.] 1. (Logic) That which is affirmed or denied of the subject. In these propositions, ``Paper is white,'' ``Ink is not white,'' whiteness is the predicate affirmed of paper and denied of ink. 2. (Gram.) The word or words in a proposition which express what is affirmed of the subject. Syn: Affirmation; declaration.
\Pred"i*cate\, a. [L. praedicatus, p. p.] Predicated.