Predicable: meaning, definitions and examples

🔍
Add to dictionary

predicable

 

[ ˈprɛdɪˌkeɪbəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

philosophy, logic

The term 'predicable' refers to a quality or attribute that can be affirmed or denied about a subject. In philosophy and logic, it is used to describe what can be asserted about a subject in a proposition, such as a quality, relation, or action. For example, in the statement 'The cat is black,' 'black' is predicable of the subject 'the cat.' Predicables are crucial for understanding arguments and determining the validity of logical statements. They can be considered as the properties or characteristics that can be discussed concerning a particular entity.

Synonyms

assertable, attributive, qualifiable.

Examples of usage

  • In the sentence, 'The sky is blue', 'blue' is a predicable.
  • The predicable nature of happiness can vary among individuals.
  • In academic discussions, understanding what is predicable is essential for clarity.
  • Predicables help in categorizing properties in logic.

Translations

Translations of the word "predicable" in other languages:

🇵🇹 predicável

🇮🇳 पूर्वानुमेय

🇩🇪 vorhersagbar

🇮🇩 dapat diprediksi

🇺🇦 передбачуваний

🇵🇱 przewidywalny

🇯🇵 予測可能な

🇫🇷 prédictible

🇪🇸 predecible

🇹🇷 öngörülebilir

🇰🇷 예측 가능한

🇸🇦 قابل للتنبؤ

🇨🇿 předvídatelný

🇸🇰 predvídateľný

🇨🇳 可预测的

🇸🇮 napovedljiv

🇮🇸 fyrirsjáanlegur

🇰🇿 болжауға болады

🇬🇪 წინასწარმეტყველებელი

🇦🇿 proqnozlaşdırıla bilən

🇲🇽 predecible

Etymology

The word 'predicable' originates from the Latin 'praedicabilis', which is derived from 'praedicare', meaning 'to proclaim' or 'to declare'. This Latin term itself is a combination of 'prae-', meaning 'before', and 'dicare', meaning 'to state' or 'to say'. The usage of 'predicable' in the context of philosophy and logic was significantly popularized during the Middle Ages, particularly through the works of scholars such as Aristotle, who utilized the concept to describe how attributes can be applied to substances. The term has evolved to encompass a variety of meanings in contemporary philosophy, with implications in discussions about truth, assertion, and the nature of existence itself. The historical journey of 'predicable' reflects the development of logical theory and the intricacies of language used to express complex ideas.