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Webster 1913 Edition

Proposition

Propˊo-si′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
propositio
: cf. F.
proposition
. See
Propound
.]
1.
The act of setting or placing before; the act of offering.
“Oblations for the altar of proposition.”
Jer. Taylor.
2.
That which is proposed; that which is offered, as for consideration, acceptance, or adoption; a proposal;
as, the enemy made
propositions
of peace; his
proposition
was not accepted.
3.
A statement of religious doctrine; an article of faith; creed;
as, the
propositions
of Wyclif and Huss
.
Some persons . . . change their
propositions
according as their temporal necessities or advantages do turn.
Jer. Taylor.
4.
(Gram. & Logic)
A complete sentence, or part of a sentence consisting of a subject and predicate united by a copula; a thought expressed or propounded in language; a from of speech in which a predicate is affirmed or denied of a subject;
as,
snow is white
.
5.
(Math.)
A statement in terms of a truth to be demonstrated, or of an operation to be performed.
☞ It is called a theorem when it is something to be proved, and a problem when it is something to be done.
6.
(Rhet.)
That which is offered or affirmed as the subject of the discourse; anything stated or affirmed for discussion or illustration.
7.
(Poetry)
The part of a poem in which the author states the subject or matter of it.
Leaves of proposition
(Jewish Antiq.)
,
the showbread.
Wyclif (Luke vi. 4).
Syn. – Proposal; offer; statement; declaration.
–
Proposition
,
Proposal
. These words are both from the Latin verb proponere, to set forth, and as here compared they mark different forms or stages of a negotiation. A proposition is something presented for discussion or consideration;
as,
propositions
of peace
. A proposal is some definite thing offered by one party to be accepted or rejected by the other. If the proposition is favorably received, it is usually followed by proposals which complete the arrangement.

Webster 1828 Edition

Proposition

PROPOSI'TION

,
Noun.
s as z. [L. propositio, from propositus, propono.]
1.
That which is proposed; that which is offered for consideration, acceptance or adoption; a proposal; offer of terms. The enemy made propositions of peace; the propositions were not accepted.
2.
In logic, one of the three parts of a regular argument; the part of an argument in which some quality, negative or positive, is attributed to a subject; as, 'snow is white;' 'water is fluid;' 'vice is not commendable.'
3.
In mathematics, a statement in terms of either a truth to be demonstrated, or an operation to be performed. It is called a theorem, when it is something to be proved; and a problem, when it is something to be done.
4.
In oratory, that which is offered or affirmed as the subject of the discourse; any thing stated or affirmed for discussion or illustration.
5.
In poetry, the first part of a poem, in which the author states the subject or matter of it. Horace recommends modesty and simplicity in the proposition of a poem.

Definition 2024

Proposition

Proposition

See also: proposition

German

Noun

Proposition f ‎(genitive Proposition, plural Propositionen)

  1. proposition

Declension

proposition

proposition

See also: Proposition

English

Noun

proposition ‎(countable and uncountable, plural propositions)

  1. (uncountable) The act of offering (an idea) for consideration.
  2. (countable) An idea or a plan offered.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 8, in The Celebrity:
      The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again; for, even after she had conquered her love for the Celebrity, the mortification of having been jilted by him remained.
  3. (countable, business settings) The terms of a transaction offered.
  4. (countable, US, politics) In some states, a proposed statute or constitutional amendment to be voted on by the electorate.
  5. (grammar) a complete sentence
    • The Popular Educator: a Complete Encyclopaedia of Elementary, Advanced, and Technical Education. New and Revised Edition. Volume I., p.98:
      Our English nouns remain unchanged, whether they form the subject or the object of a proposition.
  6. (countable, logic) The content of an assertion that may be taken as being true or false and is considered abstractly without reference to the linguistic sentence that constitutes the assertion.
  7. (countable, mathematics) An assertion so formulated that it can be considered true or false.
  8. (countable, mathematics) An assertion which is provably true, but not important enough to be called a theorem.
  9. A statement of religious doctrine; an article of faith; creed.
    the propositions of Wyclif and Huss
    • Jeremy Taylor
      Some persons […] change their propositions according as their temporal necessities or advantages do turn.
  10. (poetry) The part of a poem in which the author states the subject or matter of it.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

proposition ‎(third-person singular simple present propositions, present participle propositioning, simple past and past participle propositioned)

  1. (transitive, informal) To make a suggestion of sexual intercourse to (someone who one is not sexually involved with).
  2. (transitive, informal) To make an offer or suggestion to (someone).

Related terms

Translations

Finnish

Noun

proposition

  1. Genitive singular form of propositio.

French

Etymology

From Latin prōpositiō ‎(“statement, proposition”), from prōpōnō ‎(“propose”), from pōnō ‎(“place; assume”).

Pronunciation

Noun

proposition f ‎(plural propositions)

  1. proposition, suggestion
  2. (grammar) proposition
  3. (grammar) clause

Norman

Etymology

From Latin prōpositiō, prōpositiōnem.

Noun

proposition f ‎(plural propositions)

  1. (Jersey) proposition
  2. (Jersey, grammar) clause

Derived terms

  • proposition prîncipale ‎(“main clause”)
  • proposition s'gondaithe ‎(“subordinate clause”)

Swedish

Noun

proposition c

  1. a proposition, a government bill[1] (draft of a law, proposed by the government)

Declension

Inflection of proposition 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative proposition propositionen propositioner propositionerna
Genitive propositions propositionens propositioners propositionernas

Usage notes

  • bills introduced by members of parliament are called motion

Related terms

References

  1. ↑ Government terms, Government Offices of Sweden

Etymology

From Old French, from Latin prōpositiō(n-) ‎(“a proposing, design, theme, case”), from the verb prōpositiō.

Pronunciation

  • (US) enPR: präp'ə-zĭshʹən IPA(key): /ˌpɹɑpəˈzɪʃən/
  • Rhymes: -ɪʃən
  • Hyphenation: prop‧o‧si‧tion

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