Library / English Dictionary

PREDICATE

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

One of the two main constituents of a sentence; the predicate contains the verb and its complements

Synonyms:

predicate; verb phrase

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("predicate" is a kind of...):

phrase (an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence)

Derivation:

predicate (make the (grammatical) predicate in a proposition)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(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

Example:

'Socrates is a man' predicates manhood of Socrates

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("predicate" is a kind of...):

term (one of the substantive phrases in a logical proposition)

Domain category:

logic (the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference)

Derivation:

predicate (make the (grammatical) predicate in a proposition)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Involve as a necessary condition of consequence; as in logic

Example:

solving the problem is predicated on understanding it well

Synonyms:

connote; predicate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "predicate" is one way to...):

imply (suggest as a logically necessary consequence; in logic)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

predication ((logic) a declaration of something self-evident; something that can be assumed as the basis for argument)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Affirm or declare as an attribute or quality of

Example:

The speech predicated the fitness of the candidate to be President

Synonyms:

predicate; proclaim

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "predicate" is one way to...):

assert; asseverate; maintain (state categorically)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

predication ((logic) a declaration of something self-evident; something that can be assumed as the basis for argument)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make the (grammatical) predicate in a proposition

Example:

The predicate 'dog' is predicated of the subject 'Fido' in the sentence 'Fido is a dog'

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "predicate" is one way to...):

interrelate; relate (be in a relationship with)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

predicate (one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the predicate contains the verb and its complements)

predicate ((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)

predicative (of adjectives; relating to or occurring within the predicate of a sentence)

predicator (an expression that predicates)

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