predication

[pred-i-key-shuhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of asserting something.

   Although he struggled academically, the school's predication that he couldn't learn and succeed without medication was thankfully proven false.

2. an act or instance of basing an action or statement on something else.

   His video installation Revolution explores lingering Socialist and Muslim dreams in Egypt and their continued predication on drama and violence.

3. Grammar, Logic.,  an act or instance of combining a subject and a predicate, according to rules of syntax, so as to make a statement about something.

   What is the function, for example, of the predication “Whales are mammals” in a discourse?

4. Law.,  evidence of possible criminal action, sufficient to warrant a charge or inquiry.

   There were a number of things that caused us to believe we had adequate predication to open the investigation.

5. Rare.,  prediction.

Other Word Forms

• predicational adjective
• subpredication noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of predication¹

First recorded in 1300–50, for an earlier sense; from Latin praedicātiōn-, stem of praedicātiō “announcement, declaration,” from praedicāre “to declare publicly, assert”; predicate ( def. ), -ion ( def. )

Example Sentences

And it said the supercomputer, which is entirely powered by renewable energy, will also improve predications on ongoing challenges caused by climate change, such as flooding and wildfires.

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Our BBC Radio 5 Live pundits had a punt at trying to predict this year's champions, and also gave predications on all things Six Nations, including potential Lions bolters and top try-scorers.

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At the time, Glapiński argued the cut was justified based on the bank’s expectation that inflation would fall over the coming months — a predication that has played out, with inflation down to 2.8% in February.

Read more on Seattle Times

Raymond N. Hulser, a prosecutor in charge of the public integrity section at the time, told Mr. Durham that the Washington case that was based on the book lacked predication.

Read more on New York Times

“That revealed that there was no predication to start the Russia investigation because Steele couldn’t back it up,” Mr. Baker said.

Read more on Washington Times

Related Words

• allegation 
• assertion 
• belief 
• claim 
• discussion 
• explanation 
• hypothesis 
• idea 
• opinion 
• plea 
• position 
• thesis