POSTULATE

postulate, posit

(noun) (logic) a proposition that is accepted as true in order to provide a basis for logical reasoning

postulate, posit

(verb) take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom; “He posited three basic laws of nature”

contend, postulate

(verb) maintain or assert; “He contended that Communism had no future”

necessitate, ask, postulate, need, require, take, involve, call for, demand

(verb) require as useful, just, or proper; “It takes nerve to do what she did”; “success usually requires hard work”; “This job asks a lot of patience and skill”; “This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice”; “This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert”; “This intervention does not postulate a patient’s consent”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

postulate (plural postulates)

Something assumed without proof as being self-evident or generally accepted, especially when used as a basis for an argument. Sometimes distinguished from axioms as being relevant to a particular science or context, rather than universally true, and following from other axioms rather than being an absolute assumption.

A fundamental element; a basic principle.

(logic) An axiom.

A requirement; a prerequisite.

Adjective

postulate (not comparable)

Postulated.

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.

(ambitransitive, Christianity, historical) To appoint or request one's appointment to an ecclesiastical office.

(ambitransitive, obsolete) To request, demand or claim for oneself.

Anagrams

• attopulse

Source: Wiktionary

Pos"tu*late, n. Etym: [L. postulatum a demand, request, prop. p. p. of postulare to demand, prob. a dim. of poscere to demand, prob. for porcscere; akin to G. forschen to search, investigate, Skr. prach to ask, and L. precari to pray: cf. F. postulat. See Pray.]

1. Something demanded or asserted; especially, a position or supposition assumed without proof, or one which is considered as self-evident; a truth to which assent may be demanded or challenged, without argument or evidence.

2. (Geom.)

Definition: The enunciation of a self-evident problem, in distinction from an axiom, which is the enunciation of a self-evident theorem. The distinction between a postulate and an axiom lies in this, -- that the latter is admitted to be self-evident, while the former may be agreed upon between two reasoners, and admitted by both, but not as proposition which it would be impossible to deny. Eng. Cyc.

Pos"tu*late, a.

Definition: Postulated. [Obs.] Hudibras.

Pos"tu*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Postulating.]

1. To beg, or assume without proof; as, to postulate conclusions.

2. To take without express consent; to assume. The Byzantine emperors appear to have . . . postulated a sort of paramount supremacy over this nation. W. Tooke.

3. To invite earnestly; to solicit. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition