I'm not so sure

Posted by Word Camel on January 28, 2005

In Reply to: Laying the predicate posted by Henry on January 27, 2005

: : : : Is 'predicate' used properly in the following sentence:
: : : : Hannibal allegedly was made to take an oath of eternal enmity toward the Romans by his father, who lost the First Punic war -- thus laying the predicate for the Second.
: : : : Thanks.

: : :
: : : I hope you can find someone informed on the use of this word, but it seems to be used here as a form of prediction, which, according to the OED, is an incorrect use. If the author had said the second Punic War as predicated on the first we would at least have a statement clear enough to argue about. SS

: :
: : I agree, the author appears to be confusing 'predicate' with 'predict' - but even then, it would be an odd, not to say clumsy, sentence.

: : DFG

: The writer seems to be using predicate as a noun in the sense of foundation. This would be an extension of the sense of the noun to include a sense which is already attributed to the verb.
: predicate v. tr. To base or establish (a statement or action, for example): I predicated my argument on the facts.
: Did Shakespeare use words correctly? The answer is Yes if he transmitted his intended meaning clearly and No otherwise. It's the same here. I can't see anything to suggest that the writer doesn't appreciate the difference predicate and predict.

Predicate can be used in the sense of logic. Hannible's father has taken an oath to defy the Romans. Hannibal takes the same oath out of loyalty to his father, therefore Hannibal will defy the Romans. That's not exactly what's being said above, but I think it might be meant in that way, the oath being the predicate. But I like I say, I'm not certain.

• I'm not so sure David FG 28/January/05
  • I'm not so sure mugball-us 29/January/05