predicate

Predicate is a grammar term used to describe the part of the sentence which talks about the subject and which has a verb.

(noun)

An example of predicate is "ate lunch" in the sentence "Mary ate lunch."

To predicate is to agree that something is a quality or property of someone.

(verb)

An example of predicate is to confirm the kindness of someone who has recently made a large contribution to a charity.

See predicate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

Obsolete to proclaim; preach; declare; affirm
1. to affirm as a quality, attribute, or property of a person or thing: to predicate the honesty of another's motives
2. Logic to assert (something) about the subject of a proposition
to affirm or base (something) on or upon given facts, arguments, conditions, etc.
to imply or connote

Origin: L praedicatus, pp. of praedicare: see preach

intransitive verb

to make an affirmation or statement

noun

Gram. the verb or verbal phrase, including any complements, objects, and modifiers, that is one of the two immediate constituents of a sentence and asserts something about the subject
Logic something that is affirmed or denied about the subject of a proposition (Ex.: green in “grass is green”)

Origin: ML praedicatum, neut. of praedicatus: see predicatethe

adjective

Gram. of or having the nature of a predicate: a predicate adjective

Related Forms:

See predicate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb pred·i·cat·ed, pred·i·cat·ing, pred·i·cates

verb, transitive

To base or establish (a statement or action, for example): I predicated my argument on the facts.
To state or affirm as an attribute or quality of something: The sermon predicated the perfectibility of humankind.
To carry the connotation of; imply.
Logic To make (a term or expression) the predicate of a proposition.
To proclaim or assert; declare.

verb, intransitive

To make a statement or assertion.

noun (-kĭt)

Grammar One of the two main constituents of a sentence or clause, modifying the subject and including the verb, objects, or phrases governed by the verb, as opened the door in Jane opened the door or is very sleepy in The child is very sleepy.
Logic That part of a proposition that is affirmed or denied about the subject. For example, in the proposition We are mortal, mortal is the predicate.

adjective (-kĭt)