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Webster 1913 Edition


Postulate

Pos′tu-late

,
Noun.
[L.
postulatum
a demand, request, prop. p. p. of
postulare
to demand, prob. a dim. of
poscere
to demand, prob. for
porcscere
; akin to G.
forschen
to search, investigate, Skr.
prach
to ask, and L.
precari
to pray: cf. F.
postulat
. See
Pray
.]
1.
Something demanded or asserted; especially, a position or supposition assumed without proof, or one which is considered as self-evident; a truth to which assent may be demanded or challenged, without argument or evidence.
2.
(Geom.)
The enunciation of a self-evident problem, in distinction from an axiom, which is the enunciation of a self-evident theorem.
The distinction between a
postulate
and an axiom lies in this, – that the latter is admitted to be self-evident, while the former may be agreed upon between two reasoners, and admitted by both, but not as proposition which it would be impossible to deny.
Eng. Cyc.

Pos′tu-late

,
Adj.
Postulated.
[Obs.]
Hudibras.

Pos′tu-late

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Postulated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Postulating
.]
1.
To beg, or assume without proof;
as, to
postulate
conclusions
.
2.
To take without express consent; to assume.
The Byzantine emperors appear to have . . .
postulated
a sort of paramount supremacy over this nation.
W. Tooke.
3.
To invite earnestly; to solicit.
[Obs.]
Bp. Burnet.

Webster 1828 Edition


Postulate

POS'TULATE

,
Noun.
[L. postulatum, from postulo, to demand, from the root of posco, to ask or demand. The sense is to urge or push.]
A position or supposition assumed without proof, or one which is considered as self-evident, or too plain to require illustration.
A self-evident problem, answering to axiom, which is a self-evident theorem.

POS'TULATE

,
Verb.
T.
[supra.] To beg or assume without proof. [Little used.]
1.
To invite; to solicit; to require by entreaty.
2.
To assume; to take without positive consent.
The Byzantine emperors appear to have exercised, or at least to have postulated a sort of paramount supremacy over this nation.

Definition 2024


Postulate

Postulate

See also: postulate

German

Noun

Postulate n pl

  1. plural of Postulat

postulate

postulate

See also: Postulate

English

  • (UK) enPR: pŏsʹtyo͝o-lāt IPA(key): /ˈpɒstjʊleɪt/
  • (US) enPR: pŏsʹchə-lāt' IPA(key): /ˈpɑstʃəˌleɪt/
  • Hyphenation: pos‧tu‧late

Noun

postulate (plural postulates)

  1. Something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted, especially when used as a basis for an argument.
  2. A fundamental element; a basic principle.
  3. (logic) An axiom.
  4. A requirement; a prerequisite.

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

postulate (not comparable)

  1. Postulated.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Hudibras to this entry?)

Verb

postulate (third-person singular simple present postulates, present participle postulating, simple past and past participle postulated)

  1. To assume as a truthful or accurate premise or axiom, especially as a basis of an argument.
    • 1883, Benedictus de Spinoza, translated by R. H. M. Elwes, Ethics, Part 3, Prop. XXII,
      But this pleasure or pain is postulated to come to us accompanied by the idea of an external cause; []
    • 1911, Encyclopædia Britannica, "Infinite",
      [T]he attempt to arrive at a physical explanation of existence led the Ionian thinkers to postulate various primal elements or simply the infinite τὸ ἀπειρον.
  2. (transitive, intransitive, Christianity, historical) To appoint or request one's appointment to an ecclesiastical office.
    • 1874, John Small (ed.), The Poetical Works of Gavin Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld, Vol 1, p. xvi
      [A]lthough Douglas was postulated to it [the Abbacy of Arbroath], and signed letters and papers under this designation his nomination [] was never completed.
  3. (transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To request, demand or claim for oneself.

Derived terms

Translations


Italian

Verb

postulate

  1. second-person plural present indicative of postulare
  2. second-person plural imperative of postulare
  3. feminine plural of postulato

Latin

Verb

postulāte

  1. first-person plural present active imperative of postulō