WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Pos"tu*late
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [L. postulatum a demand, request, prop. p. p. of postulare to demand, prob. a dim. of poscere to demand, prob. for porcscere; akin to G. forschen to search, investigate, Skr. prach to ask, and L. precari to pray: cf. F. postulat. See Pray.]
Definition : 1. Something demanded or asserted; especially, a position or supposition assumed without proof, or one which is considered as self-evident; a truth to which assent may be demanded or challenged, without argument or evidence.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: The enunciation of a self-evident problem, in distinction from an axiom, which is the enunciation of a self-evident theorem. The distinction between a postulate and an axiom lies in this, -- that the latter is admitted to be self-evident, while the former may be agreed upon between two reasoners, and admitted by both, but not as proposition which it would be impossible to deny. Eng. Cyc.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Pos"tu*late
Part of Speech : a.
Definition : Defn: Postulated. [Obs.] Hudibras.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Pos"tu*late
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : 1. To beg, or assume without proof; as, to postulate conclusions.

2. To take without express consent; to assume. The Byzantine emperors appear to have . . . postulated a sort of paramount supremacy over this nation. W. Tooke.

3. To invite earnestly; to solicit. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

t. [imp. & p. p. Postulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Postulating.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913