Meaning & Definition of Predicate in English

1. (logic) what is predicated of the subject of a proposition

• The second term in a proposition is predicated of the first term by means of the copula

• "`socrates is a man' predicates manhood of socrates"

2. One of the two main constituents of a sentence

• The predicate contains the verb and its complements

1. Make the (grammatical) predicate in a proposition

• "The predicate `dog' is predicated of the subject `fido' in the sentence `fido is a dog'"

2. Affirm or declare as an attribute or quality of

• "The speech predicated the fitness of the candidate to be president"

3. Involve as a necessary condition of consequence

• As in logic

• "Solving the problem is predicated on understanding it well"