Pred"i*cate (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Predicated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Predicating.] [L. praedicatus, p. p. of
praedicare to cry in public, to proclaim. See Preach.]
1. To assert to belong to something; to affirm
(one thing of another); as, to predicate whiteness of
snow.
2. To found; to base. [U.S.]
&fist; Predicate is sometimes used in the United States for
found or base; as, to predicate an argument
on certain principles; to predicate a statement
on information received. Predicate is a term in logic,
and used only in a single case, namely, when we affirm one thing
of another. "Similitude is not predicated of essences or
substances, but of figures and qualities only." Cudworth.
Pred"i*cate, v. i. To affirm
something of another thing; to make an affirmation. Sir M.
Hale.
Pred"i*cate (?), n. [L.
praedicatum, neut. of praedicatus, p. p.
praedicare: cf. F. prédicat. See
Predicate, v. t.] 1.
(Logic) That which is affirmed or denied of the subject.
In these propositions, "Paper is white," "Ink is not
white," whiteness is the predicate affirmed of
paper and denied of ink.
2. (Gram.) The word or words in a
proposition which express what is affirmed of the subject.
Syn. -- Affirmation; declaration.
Pred"i*cate, a. [L. praedicatus,
p. p.] Predicated.
