Predicate - Definitions from Dictionary.com

10 results for: Predicate

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pred·i·cate

Audio Help [v. pred-i-keyt; adj., n. pred-i-kit] Pronunciation Key verb, -cat·ed, -cat·ing, adjective, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to proclaim; declare; affirm; assert.

Logic.

a.	to affirm or assert (something) of the subject of a proposition.

b.	to make (a term) the predicate of such a proposition.

3.	to connote; imply: His retraction predicates a change of attitude.

4.	to found or derive (a statement, action, etc.); base (usually fol. by on): He predicated his behavior on his faith in humanity.

–verb (used without object)

5.	to make an affirmation or assertion.

–adjective

6.	predicated.

7.	Grammar. belonging to the predicate: a predicate noun.

–noun

Grammar. (in many languages, as English) a syntactic unit that functions as one of the two main constituents of a simple sentence, the other being the subject, and that consists of a verb, which in English may agree with the subject in number, and of all the words governed by the verb or modifying it, the whole often expressing the action performed by or the state attributed to the subject, as is here in Larry is here.

9.	Logic. that which is affirmed or denied concerning the subject of a proposition.

[Origin: 1400–50; (n.) late ME ( < MF predicat) < ML praedicātum, n. use of neut. of L praedicātus, ptp. of praedicāre to declare publicly, assert, equiv. to prae- pre- + dicā(re) to show, indicate, make known + -tus ptp. suffix; (v. and adj.) < L praedicātus; cf. preach

]

—Related forms

pred·i·ca·tion, noun

pred·i·ca·tion·al, adjective

pred·i·ca·tive

Audio Help [pred-i-key-tiv, -kuh-; Brit. pri-dik-uh-tiv] Pronunciation Key, adjective

pred·i·ca·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Predicate

To learn more about Predicate visit Britannica.com

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pred·i·cate Audio Help   (prěd'ĭ-kāt') Pronunciation Key
v.   pred·i·cat·ed, pred·i·cat·ing, pred·i·cates

v.   tr.

To base or establish (a statement or action, for example): I predicated my argument on the facts.
To state or affirm as an attribute or quality of something: The sermon predicated the perfectibility of humankind.
To carry the connotation of; imply.
Logic To make (a term or expression) the predicate of a proposition.
To proclaim or assert; declare.

v. intr.
To make a statement or assertion.

n. (-kĭt)

Grammar One of the two main constituents of a sentence or clause, modifying the subject and including the verb, objects, or phrases governed by the verb, as opened the door in Jane opened the door or is very sleepy in The child is very sleepy.
Logic That part of a proposition that is affirmed or denied about the subject. For example, in the proposition We are mortal, mortal is the predicate.

adj. (-kĭt)

Grammar Of or belonging to the predicate of a sentence or clause.
Stated or asserted; predicated.

[Late Latin praedicāre, praedicāt-, from Latin, to proclaim : prae-, pre- + dicāre, to proclaim; see deik- in Indo-European roots.]

pred'i·ca'tion n., pred'i·ca'tion·al adj., pred'i·ca'tive adj., pred'i·ca'tive·ly adv.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
predicate (n.)

1532, a term in logic, from L. prædicatum "that which is said of the subject," prop. neut. pp. of prædicare "assert, proclaim, declare publicly," from præ- "forth, before" + dicare "proclaim," from stem of dicere "to speak, to say" (see diction). Grammatical sense is from 1638. Phrase predicated on "founded on, based on," is Amer.Eng., first recorded 1766.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

predicate
noun
1.	(logic) what is predicated of the subject of a proposition; the second term in a proposition is predicated of the first term by means of the copula; "'Socrates is a man' predicates manhood of Socrates"
2.	one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the predicate contains the verb and its complements
verb
1.	make the (grammatical) predicate in a proposition; "The predicate 'dog' is predicated of the subject 'Fido' in the sentence 'Fido is a dog'"
2.	affirm or declare as an attribute or quality of; "The speech predicated the fitness of the candidate to be President"
3.	involve as a necessary condition of consequence; as in logic; "solving the problem is predicated on understanding it well" [syn: connote]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
predicate [ˈpredikət] noun

what is said about the subject of a sentence
Example: We live in London; The president of the republic died.

Arabic:	خَبر المُبتَدأ
Chinese (Simplified):	谓语
Chinese (Traditional):	謂語
Czech:	přísudek
Danish:	prædikat
Dutch:	gezegde
Estonian:	öeldis
Finnish:	predikaatti
French:	prédicat
German:	die Satzaussage
Greek:	κατηγόρημα (γραμμ.)
Hungarian:	állítmány
Icelandic:	umsögn, umsagnarliður
Indonesian:	predikat
Italian:	predicato

Japanese:	述部
Korean:	술부, 술어
Latvian:	izteicējs
Lithuanian:	tarinys, predikatas
Norwegian:	verbal, predikat
Polish:	orzeczenie
Portuguese (Brazil):	predicado
Portuguese (Portugal):	predicado
Romanian:	predicat
Russian:	сказуемое
Slovak:	prísudok
Slovenian:	predikat
Spanish:	predicado
Swedish:	predikat
Turkish:	yüklem

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
predicate [(pred-i-kuht)]

The part of a sentence that shows what is being said about the subject. The predicate includes the main verb and all its modifiers. In the following sentence, the italicized portion is the predicate: “Olga's dog was the ugliest creature on four legs.”

[Chapter:] Conventions of Written English

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Predicate

Found\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Founded; p. pr. & vb. n. Founding.] [F. fonder, L. fundare, fr. fundus bottom. See 1st Bottom, and cf. Founder, v. i., Fund.]

1. To lay the basis of; to set, or place, as on something solid, for support; to ground; to establish upon a basis, literal or figurative; to fix firmly.

I had else been perfect, Whole as the marble, founded as the rock. --Shak.

A man that all his time Hath founded his good fortunes on your love. --Shak.

It fell not, for it was founded on a rock. --Matt. vii. 25.

2. To take the ffirst steps or measures in erecting or building up; to furnish the materials for beginning; to begin to raise; to originate; as, to found a college; to found a family.

There they shall found Their government, and their great senate choose. --Milton.

Syn: To base; ground; institute; establish; fix. See Predicate.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Predicate

Preach\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preached; p. pr. & vb. n. Preaching.] [OE. prechen, OF. preechier, F. pr[^e]cher, fr. L. praedicare to cry in public, to proclaim; prae before + dicare to make known, dicere to say; or perhaps from (assumed) LL. praedictare. See Diction, and cf. Predicate, Predict.]

1. To proclaim or publish tidings; specifically, to proclaim the gospel; to discourse publicly on a religious subject, or from a text of Scripture; to deliver a sermon.

How shall they preach, except they be sent? --Rom. x. 15.

From that time Jesus began to preach. --Matt. iv. 17.

2. To give serious advice on morals or religion; to discourse in the manner of a preacher.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Predicate

Pred"i*ca*ble\, a. [Cf. F. pr['e]dicable, L. praedicabilis praiseworthy. See Predicate.] Capable of being predicated or affirmed of something; affirmable; attributable.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Predicate

Pre*dic"a*ment\, n. [Cf. F. pr['e]dicament, L. praedicamentum. See Predicate.]

1. A class or kind described by any definite marks; hence, condition; particular situation or state; especially, an unfortunate or trying position or condition. "O woeful sympathy; piteous predicament!" --Shak.

2. (Logic) See Category.

Syn: Category; condition; state; plight.

Browse Nearby Entries: