proposition

plural propositions

1. uncountableThe act of offering (an idea) for consideration.

   Synonyms: proposal, suggestion

2. countableAn idea, plan, or suggestion offered.

   And it would be a fine proposition If I was a stupid girl But honey, I am no one's exception This I have previously learned

   2012, Taylor Swift, “Girl at Home”, in Red, performed by Taylor Swift

   1 more example

   The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again; for, even after she had conquered her love for the Celebrity, the mortification of having been jilted by him remained.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

   1. countableinformaluncountableA suggestion of sexual intercourse (made to someone with whom one is not sexually involved).

      Quinn looked into the intersection. Tonya was standing in the middle of it, stance wide, taser in both hands, Quinn's rickshaw on the sidewalk behind her. "Ow," said Quinn, and it came out just shy of a proposition.

      2023 June 25, HarryBlank, “Transposthumousism”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 31 Dec 2024

3. countablebusiness settingsThe terms of a transaction offered.

   Synonyms: proposal

4. UScountablegovernmentIn some states, a proposed statute or constitutional amendment to be voted on by the electorate.

   In November, though, voters will be faced with proposition one. It's a citizen's initiative that will do two things. If passed, it would open up all primaries in Idaho, and it would create a new voting system known as ranked choice voting.

   2024 October 15, Samantha Wright, “Idaho Elections: How Prop 1 might change our voting system”, in Boise State Public Radio

5. countableuncountablegrammarA complete sentence.

   Our English nouns remain unchanged, whether they form the subject or the object of a proposition.

   c. 1888, The Popular Educator: a Complete Encyclopaedia of Elementary, Advanced, and Technical Education. New and Revised Edition. Volume I., page 98

6. countablehuman sciencesThe content of an assertion that may be taken as being true or false and is considered abstractly without reference to the linguistic sentence that constitutes the assertion; (Aristotelian logic) a predicate of a subject that is denied or affirmed and is connected by a copula.

   “Wiktionary is a good dictionary” is a proposition.

7. countablehuman sciencesAn assertion so formulated that it can be considered true or false.
8. countablemathematicsAn assertion which is provably true, but not important enough to be called a theorem.
9. countableuncountableA statement of religious doctrine; an article of faith; a creed.

   the propositions of Wyclif and Huss

   1 more example

   There are some persons, whose religion is hugely disgraced, because they change their propositions, according as their temporal necessities or advantages do return.

   1668, “Twenty-seven Sermons Preached at Golden Grove; Being for the Summer Half-year, […]: Sermon XXI. [Of Christian Prudence.] Part II.”, in Reginald Heber, editor, The Whole Works of the Right Rev. Jeremy Taylor, D.D. […], volume VI, London: Ogle, Duncan, and Co. […]; and Richard Priestley, […], published 1822, →OCLC, page 113

10. countablepoeticuncountableThe part of a poem in which the author states the subject or matter of it.
11. countablemisspellinguncountableMisspelling of preposition.

present singular third person propositions · participle present propositioning · participle past propositioned · past propositioned

1. informaltransitiveTo make an offer or suggestion to (someone).

   The Superintendent of the facility tried to proposition with me that if I snitched to the guards and would work with him, then he would put my friend and me back together again.

   1984 April 7, anonymous author, “Isolate and Conquer”, in Gay Community News, page 12

   1. informaltransitiveTo make a suggestion of sexual intercourse to (someone with whom one is not sexually involved).

      Yiannopoulos started releasing video interviews and other evidence meant to prove that [Ali] Alexander sexually propositioned both adult men in their 20s and at least two teenagers.

      2023 April 17, Will Sommer, “‘Stop the Steal’ Organizer Apologizes After Being Accused of Asking Teen Boys for D*ck Pics”, in The Daily Beast, archived from the original on 20 Apr 2023

      Synonyms: pass, come on to, hit on