| 释义 |
▪ I. predicate, n.|ˈprɛdɪkət|
Also 7–9 præ-.
[ad. late and med.L. prædicātum (= ‘quod dicitur de subjecto’, that which is said of the subject, Boeth.), n. use of neuter pa. pple. of prædicāre (see next). So F. prédicat (Oresme 1391, admitted by Acad. 1878).]
1. Logic. That which is predicated or said of the subject in a proposition; the second term of a proposition, which is affirmed or denied of the first term by means of the copula, as in ‘this man is my father’, ‘Peter is a man’, ‘all men are mortal’, ‘the sun is rising’. (At first used in L. form, prædicatum.)
1532More Confut. Tindale Wks. 451/1 Where the thinges that we speake of or the article of y⊇ diuersitie of the word whiche is in the verbe in our englishe tonge,..maketh the matter open which of the two termes we take for subiectum & which for prædicatum. a1555Ridley Treat. Error Transubst. (1556) G iij b, It..leaueth that to be determined and tolde by that which foloweth the word (is), that is by predicatum. 1582Parsons Def. Censure 124 Nothing, but maketh a long idle speake of prædicatum and subiectum, as pertinent to the mater, as charing crosse to byllingsgate. 1612T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 13 (1619) 482 The Apostle..vseth but one article, to note but one subject, to whom both the predicates most truely and properly agree. 1651Hobbes Gov. & Soc. xviii. §4. 346 The Proposition is true in which the word consequent, which by Logicians is called the Prædicate, embraceth the word antecedent in its amplitude, which they call the Subject. a1688Cudworth Immut. Mor. (1731) 95 As Aristotle observes in all Affirmation, and Negation at least, the Predicate is always Universal. 1754Edwards Freed. Will i. iii. 16 When the Subject and Predicate of the Proposition, which affirms the Existence of any Thing, either Substance, Quality, Act or Circumstance, have a full and certain Connection, then the Existence or Being of that Thing is said to be necessary in a metaphysical Sense. 1809–10Coleridge Friend (1818) III. 212 Existence is its own predicate [i.e. The word is when it means exists is a predicate as well as a copula]. c1840[see quantification]. 1867Fowler Deductive Logic ii. i. 23 The term affirmed or denied is called the predicate, the term of which it is affirmed or denied the subject, the connecting verb..the copula. Ibid. iv. 34 All negative propositions distribute their predicate, whereas affirmative propositions do not. 1903B. Russell Princ. of Math. I. iv. 45 We shall say that ‘Socrates is human’ is a proposition having only one term; of the remaining components of the proposition, one is the verb, the other is a predicate... Predicates..are concepts, other than verbs, which occur in propositions having only one term or subject. 1962A. Martinet Functional View of Lang. ii. 44 There was a riot, in the village, yesterday... There was marks the riot as the predicate, i.e. as the element around which the others gravitate and in relation to which that function will be marked.
2. a. Gram. The statement made about a subject, including the logical copula (which in a verb is expressed by the personal suffix). Sometimes restricted to the main verb and its object or complement, to the exclusion of any adjunct. Also in Logic and Math., freq. in wider use: an assertion or relation having one or more terms unspecified; a propositional function.
The grammatical predicate is either a simple verb, or a verb of incomplete predication with its complement. The generalization of predicate (G. prädikat) to include relations (many-place predicates) originated in Hilbert & Ackermann Grundzüge der theoretischen Logik (1928) 45: see quot. 1950.
a1638Mede Wks. (1672) 81 Thus much of the Subject, ‘The Righteous’: Now I come to the Predicate, ‘shall be in everlasting remembrance’. [1668Wilkins Real Char. ii. i. §6. 46 Actions or Passions of things; (..tho it be not properly one simple part of speech, but rather a mixture of two, namely the Predicate and Copula)..Verbe.] 1852Morell Anal. Sentences i. §9. 14 The predicate affirms respecting the subject either—What it is; or, What it does; or, What it suffers. Man is mortal. The snow falls. The child was neglected. 1858Mason Eng. Gram. §§347–8. 92 Inasmuch as the personal terminations or a verb have no existence apart from the verb itself, it is usual (and convenient) in grammar to treat the copula as a part of the predicate. Thus in the sentence ‘Time flies’, time is called the subject, and flies the predicate... In using the word predicate, we mean the predicate and copula combined. In grammar, the terms subject and predicate are used in a more restricted sense than in Logic. 1874Sayce Compar. Philol. i. 9 Every predicate must have a subject. 1892H. Sweet New Eng. Gram. I. 48 In language the logical connections between words extend over a wider area than the purely grammatical ones. Thus in such a sentence as I came home yesterday morning, the grammatical predicate to I is came, home and yesterday being grammatically connected with the predicate only, while morning is an adjunct to yesterday only. But in thought yesterday is as much part of the predicate as came itself, came-home-yesterday-morning being the logical predicate which, from a grammatical point of view may be regarded either as an extended predicate or a group-predicate. 1921E. Sapir Language ii. 37 The reduced sentence resolves itself into the subject of discourse—the mayor—and the predicate—is going to deliver a speech. It is customary to say that the true subject of such a sentence is mayor, the true predicate is going or even is. 1961Archivum Linguisticum XIII. 81 The relative priority of such class concepts as noun and verb as against such as subject and predicate. 1968J. Lyons Introd. Theoret. Linguistics viii. 334 John killed Bill in Central Park on Sunday. The subject is John; the predicate is killed Bill; and in Central Park and on Sunday are adjuncts.
1937S. K. Langer Introd. Symbolic Logic vii. 158 ‘Being white’ has the properties of such a relation; any term, a, has it or does not have it, but since there is no second term we cannot say that a has this relation to any other. Such a relation of ‘monadic’ degree is called a predicate. Ibid. 159 The sole business of predicates in logic is to define classes. 1940W. V. Quine Math. Logic i. 27 ‘Is true’ and ‘is false’..are predicates by means of which we speak about statements. Ibid. 28 The verb ‘implies’..is a binary predicate by means of which we talk about statements. 1943Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. LIII. 42 Let us consider number-theoretic predicates, that is, propositional functions of natural numbers. 1950tr. Hilbert & Ackermann's Princ. Math. Logic iii. 57 To the formula x + y = z there corresponds a triadic predicate S(x, y, z). The truth of S(x, y, z) means that x, y, and z are connected by the relation x + y = z. [Note] Hitherto it has been customary in logic to call only functions with one argument place predicates, while functions with more than one place were called relations. Here we use the word ‘predicate’ in a quite general sense. 1965Hughes & Londey Elem. Formal Logic xxxix. 270 We shall..speak of the expressions, such as ‘greater than’ and ‘between’, which stand for two-place, three-place, etc., relations, as two-place, three-place, etc., predicates respectively. 1969D. J. Foulis Fund. Concepts Math. i. 14 Suppose that P(x)..becomes a proposition whenever x takes on any particular value in U. Then P(x) is called a predicate or a propositional function, and the object variable x is called its argument. 1973H. Hermes Introd. Math. Logic i. 40 In the statement The crown jewels are kept in the Tower of London, The crown jewels and the Tower of London can be understood as names for individuals and are kept in as a name for a predicate... are kept in is a name for a two-place predicate... is tall is a name for a one-place predicate.
b. An appellation or title that asserts something.
1882–3Schaff's Encycl. Relig. Knowl. 594 Nestorius refused to give Mary the praedicate θεοτόκος. 1887N. & Q. 7th Ser. IV. 64/2 The noble author, head,..under the ‘predicate’ of Aghrim, of the eldest branch of the once princely house of Imaney.
c. A quality, an attribute.
1872tr. Ueberweg's Hist. Philos. I. §106. 475 To the revealed God belong the divine predicates, and especially the predicate of reason. 1875Lewes Probl. Life & Mind II. iii. ii. §24. 150 For predicates—qualities—are not mere patterns on the web of a subject; they are the threads of that web.
d. (= Ger. prädikat.) In reference to German and other foreign universities, etc.: The judgement pronounced upon a candidate's work in an examination (e.g. ‘cum laude, rite, vix satis’, etc.); hence, the class or position obtained by a candidate.
1899Daily News 30 May 8/5 At the examination he very often was at a loss for an answer, and received very unsatisfactory predicates.
3. attrib. and Comb., as predicate accusative, predicate adjective, predicate-centre (predicate-centred adj.), predicate clause, predicate expression, predicate marker, predicate nominal, predicate nominative, predicate-part, predicate-phrase, predicate-position, predicate-prefix, predicate sentence, predicate stress, predicate-taking adj., predicate term, predicate variable, predicate word; predicate calculus [tr. G. prädikatenkalkül (Hilbert & Ackermann Grundzüge der theoret. Logik (1928) ii. 34)], any formal logic characterized by the use of existential quantifiers; cf. propositional calculus s.v. propositional a. b.
1887W. W. Goodwin Greek Gram. iii. 194 The predicate nominative with the passive verbs of this class represents the *predicate accusative of the active construction.
Ibid. 196 The *predicate adjective may be connected with its noun by the copula..or by a copulative verb. 1977Word 1972 XXVIII. 79 In the following discussion I shall be concerned with predicate adjectives, except where otherwise noted.
1950tr. Hilbert & Ackermann's Princ. Math. Logic p. ix, The terminology has been adapted to that of the Grundlagen der Mathematik by Hilbert and Bernays. For example, the term ‘functional calculus’ has been everywhere replaced by ‘*predicate calculus’. Ibid. iii. 67 We will now proceed, just as we did for the sentential calculus, to set up for the predicate calculus a system of axioms from which the remaining true sentences of the predicate calculus may be obtained by means of certain rules. 1955A. N. Prior Formal Logic i. iv. 73 The calculus of predicational functions (often simply called the functional calculus, or the predicate calculus). 1966Mathematical Rev. Jan. 7/1 (heading) Axiomatization of the infinite-valued predicate calculus. 1970Language XLVI. 783 Whether grammatical or lexical-situational, all these relations are the linguistic counterpart of the predicate calculus. 1979Sci. Amer. May 131/1 Could there exist an algorithm such that when it was given a statement written in precise mathematical language, it would report eventually whether the statement was true or false?.. For a powerful formalized language known as the predicate calculus it has been shown that no such algorithm exists.
1966R. A. Hall Pidgin & Creole Lang. vi. 84 In the predicates of most pidgins and creoles, we find..virtually any type of free form of phrase, without any verb. Here are a few examples of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives as *predicate-centers. Ibid. 85 Examples of other types of predicate-center include those containing adverbs or adverbial phrases.
1974Amer. Speech 1970 XLV. 265 He differs from Becker in choosing a *predicate-centered approach in which the verb is the central element.
1966Eng. Stud. XLVII. 257 Grammatically that-clauses..may also function as *predicate clauses.
1957G. Ryle in M. Black Importance of Lang. (1962) 154 *Predicate-expressions also denote what they are truly predicable of.
1966R. A. Hall Pidgin & Creole Lang. vi. 83 The predicate in many pidgins and creoles..is often set apart from what goes before, by some special syntactic marker. South Seas Pidgin English..has a ‘*predicate-marker’ /i-/, which is normally used when the subject..is not of the first or second person.
1965N. Chomsky Aspects of Theory of Syntax iv. 181 ‘Bill is a lawyer.’ The *Predicate-Nominal of the latter is not singular, in the base structure.
1887*Predicate nominative [see predicate accusative]. 1957D. L. Bolinger in Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. xxviii. 150 This resolves the subject vs. predicate-nominative ambiguity in plain hwQs.
1924O. Jespersen Philos. Gram. 145 We might also use the terms ‘subject-part’ and ‘*predicate-part’ instead of ‘primary’ and ‘adnex’.
1965N. Chomsky Aspects of Theory of Syntax ii. 102 The Place and Time Adverbials that are associated with the full *Predicate-Phrase.
1955A. N. Prior Formal Logic ii. iii. 160 The Schoolmen also very freely substitute singular terms for general ones, in the *predicate- as well as the subject-position.
1966R. A. Hall Pidgin & Creole Lang. vi. 83 Haitian and the other Central American French-based creoles have a series of *predicate-prefixes, which indicate negation..and tense.
1964Language XL. 46 The sentences to be discussed..have is as their main verb. They will be referred to as *predicate sentences.
1934Priebsch & Collinson German Lang. i. iii. 60 We might term such stresses *predicate stresses, for they indicate what is the logical (if not the grammatical) predicate.
1974Canad. Jrnl. Linguistics XIX. ii. 153 Not only is there a problem for the analyst of knowing when to..assign a *predicate-taking adjective to an easy or eager deep structure.
1901A. Sidgwick Use of Words 157 *Predicate terms depend on artificial distinction. 1954I. M. Copi Symbolic Logic iv. 67 We write the symbol for its predicate term to the left of the symbol for its subject term.
1937A. Smeaton tr. Carnap's Logical Syntax of Lang. iii. 84 In Language II, there are..not only numerical variables.., but also *predicate-variables..and functor-variables. 1955A. N. Prior Formal Logic ii. iii. 158 The nearest thing to a general term-variable in the functional calculus is the predicate-variable (ϕ, etc.).
1932A. H. Gardiner Theory of Speech & Lang. iv. 216 The subject-word places before the listener a thing to which he is to direct his attention, and the *predicate-word tells him what he is to perceive or think about it.
Hence ˈpredicateless a., of which nothing can be predicated.
1863Shedd Hist. Chr. Doctr. (1869) I. iii. i. 241 There is no such dark predicateless ground; there is no such Gnostic abyss.
▪ II. predicate, v.|ˈprɛdɪkeɪt|
Also 7 præ-.
[f. ppl. stem of L. prædicāre ‘to cry in public, proclaim’, hence ‘to declare, state, say’, in med.L. ‘to preach’, and in Logic ‘to assert’, f. præ forth + dicāre to make known, proclaim: see -ate3 5.]
1. a. trans. To proclaim, declare; to affirm, assert; also, to set forth publicly, to preach; to preach up, extol, commend (rare or obs.).
1552Huloet, Predicate, prædico. 1616Bullokar Eng. Expos., Predicate, to tell abroad, to report. 1624Abp. Abbot Visib. True Ch. 114 They doat much vpon themselues,..who..doe predicate and magnifie their Synagogue, as the vnspotted wife and mysticall body of our most blessed Sauiour. 1635A. Stafford Fem. Glory (1869) 66 The more her Vertue is predicated, by her Cousen, the more she humbles her selfe. 1706Phillips, Predicate, to publish, to cry, or preach up. 1782V. Knox Ess. (1819) II. lxvi. 43 Can all this be predicated with any regard to veracity? 1822Blackw. Mag. XII. 607 Composing discourses, which..might not have been unprofitably predicated from the pulpit. 188419th Cent. Feb. 186 Many truths may be predicated about Scripture.
b. intr. or absol. To assert, affirm; to make a statement.
1827H. Steuart Planter's G. (1828) 111 To predicate, then, or affirm certainly, as to their respective usefulness.., is, properly speaking, more fanciful than real. 1866J. Martineau Ess. I. 189 To think is mentally to predicate. 1879Sala in Daily Tel. 15 May, It is perilous to predicate dogmatically as to the locality.
2. a. spec. trans. To assert or affirm as a quality, property, or attribute (of something). (In quot. 1677 absol., or ? intr. for pass.)
1614Selden Titles Hon. 126 As it is inherent, and not predicated of the Person, its best exprest for its own Essence. 1628T. Spencer Logick 26 Such arguments as be essentiall vnto the thing, of which they are predicated. 1677Gale Crt. Gentiles II. iv. 248 That nothing can predicate univocally of God and the Creature, is most evident, because [etc.]. 1780Bentham Princ. Legisl. xi. §1 It has been shown..that goodness or badness cannot with any propriety be predicated of motives. 1839Hallam Hist. Lit. IV. iv. iv. §33. 170 The schoolmen..deeming it necessary to predicate metaphysical infinity of all the divine attributes. 1852Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 315 Of whatsoever you predicate Time you must also predicate Space.
b. Logic. To state or assert (something) about the subject of a proposition; also, to make (a term) the predicate in a proposition.
1570Foxe A. & M. (ed. 2) 1596/2 Substantia may be predicated denominatiuely..or in a figuratiue locution. 1725Watts Logic iii. ii. §3 There is also a fourth figure, wherein the middle term is predicated in the major proposition, and subjected in the minor. 1864Bowen Logic v. 138 To predicate..is virtually to classify, or to assign a Subject to its proper place in a class, thereby attributing to it all the Marks of that class. Ibid. vii. 187 The famous..Dictum de omni et nullo, that whatever is predicated..universally of any Class..may be also predicated of any part of that Class. Ibid. viii. 230 We prove that it is right to predicate mortality of Socrates, by showing that Socrates belongs to the class man, all the members of which are admitted to be mortal. 1867Fowler Deduct. Logic ii. i. 23 The predicate is said to be predicated of the subject. Ibid., In the first case the predicate is predicated affirmatively..; in the two last negatively.
c. transf. To convey a predication or assertion of; to connote, imply.
1718Entertainer No. 28. 190 If Atheism predicates Honesty, some of the Whigs..may put in their claim to it.
3. To affirm (a statement or the like) on some given grounds; hence, ‘to found a proposition, argument, etc. on some basis or data’ (Bartlett); and transf. to found or base (anything) on or upon stated facts or conditions. orig. U.S.
1766T. Clap Hist. Yale Coll. 21 The Trustees..past a Vote,..predicated upon sundry former ones, wherein they finally settled the College at New-Haven. 1796Washington Writ. (1892) XIII. 227 Was not the first application to you predicated on this information? 1814M. Carey Olive Branch (1815) 220 A set of measures, all predicated upon an approaching war. 1839C. Sumner Lett. (1878) II. 105 This..is predicated upon my confidence in his ability. 1876Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. ii. 46 His [Dante's] moroseness, his party spirit and his personal vindictiveness are all predicated upon the Inferno. 1888Pres. Cleveland in Daily News 10 Sept. 5/4 The reform we seek to inaugurate is predicated upon the utmost care for established industries and enterprises. 1968Globe & Mail (Toronto) 5 Feb. 2/2 Mr. Diefenbaker said the federal Government had erred by predicating the conference on a bill of rights. 1973Times Lit. Suppl. 20 July 836/1 A new conception of reality is demanded, predicated on dissatisfaction with formalist literature and rooted in the here and now. 1975High Times Dec. 96/2 Some of the agents admitted ‘they viewed routes of advancement within the DEA to be open to them predicated on the numbers of arrests they made and the amounts of narcotics they seized’. 1977Listener 30 June 867/2 Crime predicated on sexual disorder I distrust.
¶4. Erroneously (as if irreg. f. L. prædīcĕre + -ate3) = predict v.
1623Cockeram, Predicate, to foretell. 1679N. Eng. Hist. & Gen. Reg. (1850) IV. 131 The dark Eclipses of our lights accord To praedicate a famine of ye word. 1873–4Dixon Two Queens III. xiv. vi. 101 That shrewd Venetian envoy heard enough to predicate the rising of domestic storms. 1897Globe 3 Dec. 1/4 Slight falls of snow..together with the appearance of large flocks of gulls inland, is held to predicate a hard winter.
Hence ˈpredicated, ˈpredicating ppl. adjs.
1628T. Spencer Logick 19 In his doctrine of predicated arguments, hee speakes not a word of effects and subiects. 1805E. de Acton Nuns of Desert I. 74 This predicating congress consisted of two elderly, and one young woman. 1864Bowen Logic v. 139 Any limitation of the predicated class. |