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Entry 6 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Postulate

/pŏsʹchə-lət/ · Pos·tu·late · IPA /ˈpɑst͡ʃələt/
01 n. Something demanded or asserted; especially, a position or supposition assumed without proof, or one which is considered as self-evident; a …
  1. 1.
    Something demanded or asserted; especially, a position or supposition assumed without proof, or one which is considered as self-evident; a truth to which assent may be demanded or challenged, without argument or evidence.
  2. 2.
    The enunciation of a self-evident problem, in distinction from an axiom, which is the enunciation of a self-evident theorem.(Geom.)
    “The distinction between a postulate and an axiom lies in this, -- that the latter is admitted to be self-evident, while the former may be agreed upon between two reasoners, and admitted by both, but not as proposition which it would be impossible to deny.” — Eng. Cyc.
02 a. Postulated.
  1. 1.
    Postulated.[Obs.]
03 v. t. To beg, or assume without proof; as, to postulate conclusions.
imp. & p. p. Postulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Postulating
  1. 1.
    To beg, or assume without proof; as, to postulate conclusions.
  2. 2.
    To take without express consent; to assume.
    “The Byzantine emperors appear to have . . . postulated a sort of paramount supremacy over this nation.” — W. Tooke.
  3. 3.
    To invite earnestly; to solicit.[Obs.]