Etymologically
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proposition

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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

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