predicate

[v. pred-i-keyt; adj., n. pred-i-kit] /v. ˈprɛd ɪˌkeɪt; adj., n. ˈprɛd ɪ kɪt/

verb (used with object), predicated, predicating.

to proclaim; declare; affirm; assert.

Logic.

to affirm or assert (something) of the subject of a proposition.
to make (a term) the predicate of such a proposition.

to connote; imply:

His retraction predicates a change of attitude.

to found or derive (a statement, action, etc.); base (usually followed by on):

He predicated his behavior on his faith in humanity.

verb (used without object), predicated, predicating.

to make an affirmation or assertion.

adjective

predicated.

Grammar. belonging to the predicate:

a predicate noun.

noun

Grammar. (in many languages, as English) a syntactic unit that functions as one of the two main constituents of a simple sentence, the other being the subject, and that consists of a verb, which in English may agree with the subject in number, and of all the words governed by the verb or modifying it, the whole often expressing the action performed by or the state attributed to the subject, as is here in Larry is here.

Logic. that which is affirmed or denied concerning the subject of a proposition.

Origin

1400-50; (noun) late Middle English (< Middle French predicat) < Medieval Latin praedicātum, noun use of neuter of Latin praedicātus, past participle of praedicāre to declare publicly, assert, equivalent to prae- pre- + dicā(re) to show, indicate, make known + -tus past participle suffix; (v. and adj.) < Latin praedicātus; cf. preach

Related forms

predication, noun

predicational, adjective

predicative

[pred-i-key-tiv, -kuh-; British pri-dik-uh-tiv] /ˈprɛd ɪˌkeɪ tɪv, -kə-; British prɪˈdɪk ə tɪv/ (Show IPA), adjective

predicatively, adverb

nonpredicative, adjective

nonpredicatively, adverb

subpredicate, noun

subpredication, noun

subpredicative, adjective

unpredicated, adjective

unpredicative, adjective

unpredicatively, adverb

Examples from the web for predicate

Great palmist can accurately predicate the future of man.
No one can predicate our longevity.It is better ignorant about our progenitor than knowing and making himself miserable.
In the predicate relation the pronouns respond to a more complex regulation.
Of course, prevailing cosmological theory could be wrong, but this piece is careful to declare that as a predicate.
We'd have to spend a lot of time setting the predicate to be able to answer that question.
In other words, seeing others as more like oneself is a kind of predicate for behavior that is considerate and inclusive.
Zipcar's predicate is that sharing is to ownership what the iPod is to the eight-track, what the solar panel is to the coal mine.
No, you were right, because "feel" in this usage is a linking verb and therefore needs the predicate adjective.
Afraid is almost always a predicate adjective.
It cannot serve the ends of free government to weaken its predicate.

British Dictionary definitions for predicate

predicate

verb (mainly transitive) (ˈprɛdɪˌkeɪt)

(also intr; when transitive, may take a clause as object) to proclaim, declare, or affirm

to imply or connote

foll by on or upon. to base or found (a proposition, argument, etc)

(logic)

to assert or affirm (a property, characteristic, or condition) of the subject of a proposition
to make (a term, expression, etc) the predicate of a proposition

noun (ˈprɛdɪkɪt)

(grammar)

the part of a sentence in which something is asserted or denied of the subject of a sentence; one of the two major components of a sentence, the other being the subject
(as modifier): a predicate adjective

(logic)

an expression that is derived from a sentence by the deletion of a name
a property, characteristic, or attribute that may be affirmed or denied of something. The categorial statement all men are mortal relates two predicates, is a man and is mortal
the term of a categorial proposition that is affirmed or denied of its subject. In this example all men is the subject, and mortal is the predicate
a function from individuals to truth values, the truth set of the function being the extension of the predicate

adjective (ˈprɛdɪkɪt)

of or relating to something that has been predicated

Derived Forms

predication, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin praedicāre to assert publicly, from prae in front, in public + dīcere to say

Word Origin and History for predicate

mid-15c., a term in logic, from Middle French predicat and directly from Medieval Latin predicatum, from Latin praedicatum "that which is said of the subject," noun use of neuter past participle of praedicare "assert, proclaim, declare publicly," from prae- "forth, before" (see pre-) + dicare "proclaim," from stem of dicere "to speak, to say" (see diction). Grammatical sense is from 1630s. Related: Predicative; predicator; predicatory.

adj.

1887, from Latin praedicatus, past participle of praedicare "proclaim, announce" (see predicate (n.)).

1550s, back formation from predication, or else from Latin praedicatus, past participle of praedicare "proclaim, announce" (see predicate (n.)). Related: Predicated; predicating. Phrase predicated on "founded on, based on," is American English, first recorded 1766.

predicate in Culture

predicate [(pred-i-kuht)]

The part of a sentence that shows what is being said about the subject. The predicate includes the main verb and all its modifiers. In the following sentence, the italicized portion is the predicate: “Olga's dog was the ugliest creature on four legs.”