Predicate
/ˈprɛd.ɪ.kət/noun
A grammatical term referring to the part of a sentence that expresses what is said about the subject.
Did you know?In ancient times, the act of 'predicating' was linked to divination, as it involved declaring the future based on omens and signs.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰei-
“to set, put, or place, often in a context of stating or declaring.”
Latin
Latin
praedicare
“to proclaim, announce, or declare beforehand.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
praedicatum
“a thing proclaimed or declared, especially in a grammatical context.”
Old French
Old French
predicat
“a term used in grammar to signify what is said about the subject.”
Middle English
Middle English
predicaten
“to declare or assert, particularly in relation to grammatical structures.”
Modern English
English
predicate
“the part of a sentence that provides information about the subject.”
Explore more surprising origins