postulate

English

WOTD – 18 September 2008

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Postulate

Etymology

Medieval Latin postulātum, past participle of postulāre (“to assume" later "to appoint or request ecclesiastical appointment”), from Latin, postulō (“request”).

Pronunciation

(UK, noun) IPA: /ˈpɒs.tjʊ.lət/, X-SAMPA: /"pQs.tjU.l@t/
(UK, verb) IPA: /ˈpɒs.tjʊ.leɪt/, X-SAMPA: /"pQs.tjU.leIt/
(US, noun) IPA: /ˈpɑs.tʃə.lət /, /ˈpɑs.tjə.lət/, X-SAMPA: /"pAs.tS@.l@t/, /"pAs.tj@.l@t/
(US, verb) IPA: /ˈpɑs.tʃə.leɪt /, /ˈpɑs.tjə.leɪt/, X-SAMPA: /"pAs.tS@.l@t/, /"pAs.tj@.leIt/
Audio (US, noun)
(file)
Audio (US, verb)
(file)
Hyphenation: pos‧tu‧late

Noun

postulate (plural postulates)

Something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted, especially when used as a basis for an argument.
A fundamental element; a basic principle.
(logic) An axiom.
A requirement; a prerequisite.

Translations

something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted

Chinese:
Mandarin: 公設 (cmn), 公设 (cmn) (gōngshè), 公準 (cmn), 公准 (cmn) (gōngzhǔn)
Czech: postulát (cs) m
French: postulat (fr) m
German: Postulat (de) n

Japanese: 公準 (ja) (こうじゅん, kōjun)
Norwegian: postulat (no) n
Russian: постулат (ru) (postulát) m
Serbo-Croatian:
Cyrillic: постулат (sh) m

Roman: postulat (sh) m

fundamental element; basic principle

German: Postulat (de) n
Norwegian: postulat (no) n
Russian: постулат (ru) (postulát) m

Serbo-Croatian:
Cyrillic: постулат (sh) m

Roman: postulat (sh) m

logic: an axiom

Esperanto: postulato (eo)
Finnish: oletus (fi)
French: postulat (fr) m
German: Postulat (de) n
Russian: постулат (ru) (postulát) m

Serbo-Croatian:
Cyrillic: постулат (sh) m

Roman: postulat (sh) m
Swedish: postulat (sv), axiom (sv)

requirement, prerequisite

German: Voraussetzung (de) f
Russian: постулат (ru) (postulát) m
Serbo-Croatian:
Cyrillic: постулат (sh) m

Roman: postulat (sh) m

Verb

postulate (third-person singular simple present postulates, present participle postulating, simple past and past participle postulated)

To assume as a truthful or accurate premise or axiom, especially as a basis of an argument.
- 1883, Benedictus de Spinoza, translated by R. H. M. Elwes, Ethics, Part 3, Prop. XXII,
  But this pleasure or pain is postulated to come to us accompanied by the idea of an external cause; […]
- 1911, Encyclopædia Britannica, "Infinite",
  [T]he attempt to arrive at a physical explanation of existence led the Ionian thinkers to postulate various primal elements or simply the infinite τὸ ἀπειρον.
(transitive, intransitive) (Christianity, historical) To appoint or request one's appointment to an ecclesiastical office.
- 1874, John Small (ed.), The Poetical Works of Gavin Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld, Vol 1, p. xvi
  [A]lthough Douglas was postulated to it [the Abbacy of Arbroath], and signed letters and papers under this designation his nomination […] was never completed.
(transitive, intransitive) (obsolete) To request, demand or claim for oneself.