proposition English · revision 15511

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1340|origins=la pōnō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌpɹɑpəˈzɪʃən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|proposicioun]], [[bor|fro|proposicion|t=proposal, philosophical proposition]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la|prōpositiō|t=a setting forth, statement; premise]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from the past participle stem of [[m|la|prōpōnō|t=to put forth, set forth]] (see [[propound]]).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A riddle, a sense now obsolete: the mid-14th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the OED's first quotation, for that which is propounded, a statement, is from before 1340.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In rhetoric, the setting forth of a topic for discussion is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) as is a plan proposed for action.^(Etymonline) In logic, a statement in which a predicate is affirmed or denied of a subject is from 1387–8.^(OED 1989) A matter or undertaking to be dealt with, as ''a tough proposition'', is recorded by 1877.^(Etymonline) The verb, to make a proposition to someone, is from 1914,^(Etymonline) and to propose sex from 1936.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1340 – a statement.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-14th century – a riddle.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1387–8 – a logical proposition.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1877 – a matter, an undertaking.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1914 – to proposition (verb).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A plan or suggestion put forward for acceptance; a [[proposal]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A matter to be dealt with: ''a difficult proposition''.^(AHD)

+ # ''(logic, philosophy)'' A statement that affirms or denies something and can be true or false.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(mathematics)'' A [[theorem]] or problem to be demonstrated.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a suggestion to someone, especially to propose sexual relations.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[propositional]]

+ * [[propositionally]]

+ * [[counterproposition]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[propose]]

+ * [[propound]]

+ * [[proposal]]

+ * [[position]]

+ * [[purpose]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}