proposition

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌpɹɑpəˈzɪʃən/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English proposicioun, borrowed from Old French proposicion (“proposal, philosophical proposition”),^[2][3][4] from Latin prōpositiō (“a setting forth, statement; premise”),^[2][3] from the past participle stem of prōpōnō (“to put forth, set forth”) (see propound).^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A riddle, a sense now obsolete: the mid-14th century in Etymonline;^[2] the OED's first quotation, for that which is propounded, a statement, is from before 1340.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In rhetoric, the setting forth of a topic for discussion is from the late 14th century,^[2] as is a plan proposed for action.^[2] In logic, a statement in which a predicate is affirmed or denied of a subject is from 1387–8.^[5] A matter or undertaking to be dealt with, as a tough proposition, is recorded by 1877.^[2] The verb, to make a proposition to someone, is from 1914,^[2] and to propose sex from 1936.^[2][5]

Timeline

• before 1340 – a statement.^[5]
• mid-14th century – a riddle.^[2]
• 1387–8 – a logical proposition.^[5]
• 1877 – a matter, an undertaking.^[2]
• 1914 – to proposition (verb).^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A plan or suggestion put forward for acceptance; a proposal.
2. A matter to be dealt with: a difficult proposition.
3. (logic, philosophy) A statement that affirms or denies something and can be true or false.
4. (mathematics) A theorem or problem to be demonstrated.

Verb

1. To make a suggestion to someone, especially to propose sexual relations.

Word family

• propositional
• propositionally
• counterproposition

Related words

• propose
• propound
• proposal
• position
• purpose

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press