predicate
pre duh kayt
- n (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 - n one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the predicate contains the verb and its complements
- v make the (grammatical) predicate in a proposition
The predicate `dog' is predicated of the subject `Fido' in the sentence `Fido is a dog' - v affirm or declare as an attribute or quality of
The speech predicated the fitness of the candidate to be President - v involve as a necessary condition of consequence; as in logic
solving the problem is predicated on understanding it well
- Indeed, this should be the natural predicate for Obama's positive argument in this election: that we desperately need to get our act together at home.
- In those moments, close observers knew, Powell was laying the predicate for a possible Democratic endorsement later in the year.
- He began by setting the predicate, with a sleek prcis of the Bush failures and John McCain's complicity.