An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1a) Grammar: The part of a → sentence or → clause stating something about the → subject and usually consisting of a → verb. For example, in the sentence “The man opened the door,” the subject is “the man” and the predicate is “opened the door.”

1b) Logic: Something which is affirmed or denied concerning the subject in a → proposition.

1c) Math.: A → function whose values are statements about n-tuples of objects forming the values of its → arguments. For n =1 a predicate is called a “property” , for n> 1 a → relation; propositions may be regarded as zero-place predicates (encyclopediaofmath.org).

2a) To state, affirm, or assert (something) about the subject of a proposition.

2b) To make (a term, expression, etc.) the predicate of a proposition.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from M.Fr. predicat, from L. praedicatus “declared, proclaimed,” p.p. of praedicare, from prae “beforehand,” → pre-,

• dicare “proclame,” from stem of dicere “to speak, to say,” from PIE root *deik- “to point out, to show,” cognate with Pers. dis, → form, and andišidan, → think.

Etymology (PE): Farâsan from farâ- “before; toward, along; above, upon, over,” → pro-, + san Proto-Ir. *sanh- “to declare, explain,” related to soxan, → speech and pâsox, → response, sahân, → sentence.