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The act of setting or placing before; the act of offering. "Oblations for the altar of proposition." Jer. Taylor.

Pertaining to, or in the nature of, a proposition; considered as a proposition; as, a propositional sense. I. Watts.

Characterizing that kind of reasoning which derives propositions from the observation of facts, or by generalizations from facts arrives at principles and definitions, or infers causes from effects. This is the reverse of a priori reasoning.

Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.

to accede to an opinion; as, to allow a right; to allow a claim; to allow the truth of a proposition. I allow, with Mrs. Grundy and most moralists, that Miss Newcome's conduct . . . was highly reprehensible. Thackeray.

Either of two things or propositions offered to one's choice. Thus when two things offer a choice of one only, the two things are called alternatives. Having to choose between two alternatives, safety and war, you obstinately prefer the worse. Jowett (Thucyd. ).

A phrase, discourse, or proposition, susceptible of two interpretations; and hence, of uncertain meaning. It differs from equivocation, which arises from the twofold sense of a single term.

ach separately, as the words which compose a sentence, the tones of a tune, or the simple propositions which enter into an argument. It is opposed to synthesis.

The first or conditional part of a hypothetical proposition; as, If the earth is fixed, the sun must move.

or character, or as a matter of thought; separately; independently; as, consider the two propositions apart.

To invent and offer reasons to support or overthrow a proposition, opinion, or measure; to use arguments; to reason. I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will. Milton.

the mind; reasoning expressed in words; as, an argument about, concerning, or regarding a proposition, for or in favor of it, or against it.

wing conclusions, and applying them to the case in discussion; the operation of inferring propositions, not known or admitted as true, from facts or principles known, admitted, or proved to be true. Which manner of argumentation, how false and naught it is, . . . every man that hath with perceiveth. Tyndale.…

l, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt. Shak. Asses' Bridge. Etym: [L. pons asinorum.] The fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid, "The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to one another." [Sportive] "A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses' Bridge." F. Harrison. -- To make an ass of one's self, to do…

; concurrence with approval; consent; agreement; acquiescence. Faith is the assent to any proposition, on the credit of the proposer. Locke. The assent, if not the approbation, of the prince. Prescott. Too many people read this ribaldry with assent and admiration. Macaulay. Royal assent, in England, the assent of the s…

tory, not probatory. Jer. Taylor. An assertory, not a promissory, declaration. Bentham. A proposition is assertory, when it enounces what is known as actual. Sir W. Hamilton.

The thing supposed; a postulate, or proposition assumed; a supposition. Hold! says the Stoic; your assumption's wrong. Dryden.

A self-evident and necessary truth, or a proposition whose truth is so evident as first sight that no reasoning or demonstration can make it plainer; a proposition which it is necessary to take for granted; as, "The whole is greater than a part;" "A thing can not, at the same time, be and not be."

which represent the various forms of the syllogism. It indicates a syllogism whose three propositions are universal affirmatives. Whately.

A form or mode of syllogism of which the first proposition is a universal affirmative, and the other two are particular negative.