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postulate

/ˈpɒstjʊlət/ noun

In Latin: postulō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about postulate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. (logic) a proposition that is accepted as true in order to provide a basis for logical reasoning.

verb

  1. Maintain or assert.
    He contended that Communism had no future
  2. Take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom.
    He posited three basic laws of nature
  3. Require as useful, just, or proper.
    It takes nerve to do what she did

Origin

Borrowed from Latin postulātum, a neuter nominalization of postulātus, perfect passive participle of postulō, possibly from poscō. See -ate (noun-forming suffix) for more. Cognate with French postulat.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)