Pos"tu*late (?), n. [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.] 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. 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.
© Webster 1913.
Pos"tu*late, a. Postulated. [Obs.]
Hudibras.
© Webster 1913.
Pos"tu*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postulated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Postulating.] 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.
© Webster 1913. | 
