predicate
predicate Lexical Profile
predicate Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject.
"In the sentence 'The students studied diligently,' the phrase 'studied diligently' forms the complete predicate."
Something that is affirmed or denied of the subject in a proposition in formal logic, or a relation that evaluates to true or false.
"In first-order logic, a predicate takes one or more arguments and returns a truth value."
• verb
To found or base something on a particular assumption, condition, or premise (usually used in the passive voice with 'on' or 'upon').
"The entire economic forecast is predicated on the assumption that interest rates will remain stable."
To declare, affirm, or assert something as an attribute or quality of a subject (in logic and philosophy).
"Classical metaphysics examines what qualities can legitimately be predicated of an absolute being."
• adjective
Belonging to or functioning as the grammatical predicate of a clause, especially denoting a noun or adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject.
"In the clause 'the sky became dark,' the word 'dark' functions as a predicate adjective."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word is a heteronym: as a noun or adjective, the final syllable has a reduced vowel (/ˈprɛdɪkət/), whereas as a verb, the final syllable has a long 'a' sound (/ˈprɛdɪkeɪt/). As a verb meaning 'to base or establish,' it is almost always used in the passive voice followed by 'on' or 'upon' (e.g., 'success is predicated on hard work').
• Rhymes for predicate
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin praedicatum ('something declared or asserted'), from the past participle of Latin praedicare ('to proclaim publicly or assert'), formed from prae- ('before') and dicare ('to proclaim', related to dicere 'to say').