predicate

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To found; to base. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To affirm something of another thing; to make an affirmation. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Gram.) The word or words in a proposition which express what is affirmed of the subject. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Affirmation; declaration. [ 1913 Webster ]