- Core Meaning
- To propose or assume something as a foundation for further thought or argument. It's about setting up a premise.
- Contexts
- You'll encounter 'postular' in academic discussions, philosophical debates, scientific reasoning, legal arguments, and even in complex problem-solving scenarios where you need to establish a starting point or a hypothesis.
- Nuance
- While it means to suggest or assume, it often carries a more formal or intellectual weight than simply 'to suggest'. It implies a more structured or logical basis for the proposition. Think of it as laying down a cornerstone for an argument.
Para construir um argumento lógico, precisamos primeiro postular alguns princípios básicos.
O cientista começou por postular uma nova teoria para explicar o fenômeno.
- Formal Usage
- 'Postular' is generally used in more formal or academic writing and speech. It's not a word you'd typically use in casual conversation with friends about everyday matters. Its usage signals a level of intellectual rigor.
- Logical Foundation
- The key idea behind 'postular' is establishing a starting assumption or a hypothesis that will be used to develop further ideas or reach conclusions. It's the first step in a deductive process.
O advogado começou por postular a inocência do seu cliente com base nas evidências apresentadas.
- Present Tense
- In the present tense, you might use 'postulo' (I postulate), 'postulas' (you postulate), 'postula' (he/she/it postulates), 'postulamos' (we postulate), 'postulais' (you plural postulate), or 'postulam' (they postulate). This is used when stating a general truth or a current assumption.
Nós postulamos que a gravidade funciona de forma consistente em todo o universo.
- Past Tense (Pretérito Perfeito)
- The simple past is formed with endings like 'postulei' (I postulated), 'postulaste' (you postulated), 'postulou' (he/she/it postulated), 'postulámos' (we postulated), 'postulastes' (you plural postulated), and 'postularam' (they postulated). This is used for completed actions in the past.
Naquela reunião, ele postulou uma solução radical para o problema.
- Past Tense (Pretérito Imperfeito)
- The imperfect past, 'postulava' (he/she/it used to postulate/was postulating), is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, or to describe a state of being in the past. It suggests a more continuous or descriptive past action.
Antigamente, os filósofos postulavam a existência de elementos primordiais.
- Subjunctive Mood
- The subjunctive is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or possibility. For example, 'que eu postule' (that I postulate), 'que ele postule' (that he postulate), 'que eles postulem' (that they postulate). It's crucial for expressing hypothetical situations or conditions.
É importante que todos postulem a verdade das premissas antes de tirar conclusões.
- Infinitive Form
- The infinitive 'postular' is used after modal verbs (like 'poder', 'dever', 'querer') or in certain grammatical constructions, similar to English. It's the base form of the verb.
O professor nos pediu para postular um cenário alternativo para o experimento.
- Academic Lectures
- In university settings, especially in philosophy, mathematics, physics, and law, professors and students frequently use 'postular' when discussing theories, axioms, theorems, or legal principles. You might hear phrases like, "Para provar isso, precisamos postular a existência de um espaço-tempo contínuo." (To prove this, we need to postulate the existence of a continuous spacetime.)
O professor de lógica começou a aula explicando os axiomas que ele iria postular.
- Scientific Conferences
- Presentations and discussions at scientific conferences often involve introducing hypotheses or assumptions. A researcher might say, "Nós postulamos que a nova droga terá um efeito positivo na recuperação celular." (We postulate that the new drug will have a positive effect on cell recovery.)
Os cientistas postularam a existência de matéria escura com base em observações astronômicas.
- Debates and Argumentation
- In formal debates or when constructing a reasoned argument, individuals might use 'postular' to introduce a premise. For instance, a debater might state, "Para os propósitos deste debate, vamos postular que a liberdade de expressão é um direito absoluto." (For the purposes of this debate, let's postulate that freedom of speech is an absolute right.)
O juiz pediu às partes para postular os fatos relevantes para a decisão.
- Philosophical Discussions
- Philosophers often begin by postulating certain concepts or conditions to explore their implications. "O filósofo tentou postular uma ética baseada puramente na razão." (The philosopher tried to postulate an ethics based purely on reason.)
- Overuse in Casual Conversation
- Mistake: Using 'postular' in everyday, informal chats where simpler verbs like 'achar' (to think), 'sugerir' (to suggest), or 'supor' (to suppose) would be more natural. For example, saying "Eu postulo que vai chover hoje" (I postulate that it will rain today) sounds overly formal and a bit odd in a casual context.
- Incorrect Verb Conjugation
- Mistake: Incorrectly conjugating 'postular'. Since it's a regular -ar verb, it follows standard patterns, but learners might mix it up with irregular verbs. For instance, using an incorrect past tense form like "ele postulou" instead of the correct "ele postulou" (which is actually correct, but a learner might misapply a pattern from another verb).
- Confusing with 'Postar'
- Mistake: Confusing 'postular' (to postulate) with 'postar' (to post, e.g., on social media). These are completely different words with different meanings and pronunciations. A sentence like "Eu postulo uma foto no Instagram" is incorrect; it should be "Eu posto uma foto no Instagram." This is a common phonetic confusion for some learners.
- Using it for Simple Assumptions
- Mistake: Employing 'postular' for very basic, everyday assumptions that don't require a formal premise. For example, saying "Eu postulo que você gosta de café" (I postulate that you like coffee) is far too strong and formal for a simple assumption. 'Acho que você gosta de café' (I think you like coffee) is much more appropriate.
Incorrect: Eu postulo que ele está atrasado.
Correct: Eu acho que ele está atrasado.
- Supor
- 'Supor' means to suppose, assume, or imagine. It's a bit less formal than 'postular' and can be used for everyday assumptions. However, it can also be used in more formal contexts to introduce a hypothesis.
Example: 'Eu suponho que ele virá à festa.' (I suppose he will come to the party.) vs. 'O cientista postulou uma nova hipótese.' (The scientist postulated a new hypothesis.) The latter implies a more rigorous, foundational assumption. - Assumir
- 'Assumir' means to assume, take on, or accept. In the sense of assuming something as true, it's similar to 'supor'. It can be used for both formal and informal assumptions. However, 'postular' often carries the connotation of establishing a premise for logical deduction, which 'assumir' might not always imply as strongly.
Example: 'Assumi que você já sabia disso.' (I assumed you already knew that.) vs. 'Precisamos assumir que as leis da física se aplicam.' (We need to assume that the laws of physics apply.) 'Postular' would be even more appropriate for the second sentence if it's part of a formal argument. - Propor
- 'Propor' means to propose, suggest, or offer. While 'postular' involves suggesting something as a basis for reasoning, 'propor' is more about putting forward an idea, plan, or suggestion for consideration.
Example: 'Ele propôs um novo projeto para a empresa.' (He proposed a new project for the company.) This is different from 'postular' which sets up a premise. You might 'propor' a solution after you have 'postulado' the problem. - Hipótese (Noun form)
- Related to 'postular' is the noun 'hipótese' (hypothesis). 'Postular' is the act of proposing or establishing a hypothesis.
Example: 'A hipótese central do estudo é que o exercício melhora a cognição.' (The central hypothesis of the study is that exercise improves cognition.) You would then 'postular' this hypothesis to test it.
A diferença entre postular e supor está na formalidade e no peso argumentativo.
- IPA (Brazilian Portuguese)
- /pos.tuˈlaɾ/
- IPA (European Portuguese)
- /puʃ.tuˈlaɾ/
- Stress
- The stress falls on the second-to-last syllable: pos-tu-LAR.
- Common Errors
- 1. Pronouncing the 's' in 'pos-' as a 'z' sound (like in English 'pose'). In Portuguese, it's typically an 's' sound.
2. Forgetting the stress on the 'lar' syllable.
3. In European Portuguese, the 't' before 'u' can sometimes sound like 'ch', and the final 'r' can be very soft or almost silent depending on the speaker's region. - Rhymes
- Words ending in '-ular' such as: circular, particular, regular, singular,acular, acumular, anular, articular, calcular, capitular, circular, coagular, formular, legislar, macular, modular, nebulizar, ocular, particular, popular, regular, similar, singular, specular, tabular, triangular,ular.
Listen carefully to native speakers say postular.
- Nouns
- • Postulação (postulation, the act of postulating or a proposition made as a basis for argument)
• Postulado (a postulate, a statement taken as a given or self-evident premise) - Verbs
- • Postular (to postulate)
- Adjectives
- • Postulado(a) (postulated, assumed as a premise; can also refer to something that has been postulated)
- Adverbs
- • No common direct adverbial form derived solely from 'postular'.
- Related Words
- • Hipótese (hypothesis) - closely related conceptually.
• Premissa (premise) - a statement that forms the basis of an argument.
• Axioma (axiom) - a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the basis for a system of belief or reasoning.
• Suposição (supposition, assumption)
• Fundamento (foundation, basis)
A postulação de uma nova teoria leva à criação de novos postulados.
- Origin
- The Portuguese word 'postular' comes directly from the Latin verb 'postulāre'.
- Original Meaning
- In Latin, 'postulāre' meant to ask, demand, require, or claim. It was often used in legal contexts to formally request something or to state a claim.
- Language Family
- Indo-European > Italic > Latin > Romance Languages > Portuguese.
- Fun Fact
- The English word 'postulate' shares the same Latin root, 'postulāre'. This is why the meanings are so similar across both languages. The shift in meaning from a general 'ask/demand' to a more specific 'assume as a basis for reasoning' likely occurred as academic and scientific discourse evolved, requiring precise terms for establishing foundational principles.
- Timeline
- The Latin verb 'postulāre' was in use during the classical period. The word entered Portuguese through the evolution of Vulgar Latin. Its formal usage in academic and scientific contexts solidified over centuries as these fields developed.
O latim 'postulāre' significava pedir ou exigir, e evoluiu para postular em português.
- Mnemonic
- Imagine a professor standing at a podium, looking very serious. He's about to start a complex lecture and says, "First, we must postulate all the basic rules... like a post on a tular (tulip) - it's the solid base from which everything else grows." The 'post' and 'tula' sound hint at the word, while the idea of a 'post' as a foundation links to the meaning.
- Visual Association
- Picture a scientist carefully placing a single, strong pillar (like a 'post') to support a grand architectural structure. This pillar represents the initial assumption or premise that the entire structure (the argument or theory) is built upon. The pillar is essential and foundational.
- Story
- In the ancient city of Veritas, renowned for its scholars, a young student named Leo was struggling with his thesis. His professor, a wise old man, told him, "Leo, before you can build a grand argument, you must first postular a solid foundation." Leo didn't understand. The professor continued, "Think of it like laying the first stone. You must postular that this stone is perfectly stable, that it will not move. This is your first postulado." Leo finally grasped the concept. He began to postular his basic assumptions, building his complex theory piece by piece, always starting with a clear, assumed premise.
- Word Web
- Central Word: Postular
• Action: To suggest, assume, propose as a basis.
• Result: Postulação (act), Postulado (premise/axiom).
• Contexts: Academia, science, philosophy, law, logic.
• Related Concepts: Hypothesis, premise, axiom, assumption, foundation.
• English Cognate: To postulate.
• Opposite Idea (in terms of certainty): To doubt, to question.
• Synonyms (less formal): Supor, assumir.
• Antonyms (in terms of establishing): To refute, to deny. - Practice Challenge
- Try to explain the concept of 'postular' to someone using only simple Portuguese words, focusing on the idea of setting up a starting point for an argument. Then, try to use 'postular' in a sentence about a scientific theory you find interesting.
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
Para começar a discussão, vamos postular que todos concordam com o ponto principal.
Let's postulate that everyone agrees with the main point.
'Vamos postular' uses the infinitive after 'vamos' (let's). 'Que' introduces the clause stating what is being postulated.
O cientista postulou uma nova teoria para explicar o fenômeno.
The scientist postulated a new theory to explain the phenomenon.
'Postulou' is the preterite (simple past) tense of 'postular'.
É necessário postular a existência de uma força desconhecida para que o modelo funcione.
It is necessary to postulate the existence of an unknown force for the model to work.
'É necessário postular' uses the infinitive after 'é necessário' (it is necessary).
Os filósofos antigos postulavam que o universo era composto por quatro elementos.
Ancient philosophers used to postulate that the universe was composed of four elements.
'Postulavam' is the imperfect past tense, indicating a habitual or ongoing action in the past.
Se você quer postular algo, precisa ter evidências.
If you want to postulate something, you need to have evidence.
'Se você quer postular' uses the infinitive after 'quer' (want).
Para provar o teorema, o matemático começou por postular um caso específico.
To prove the theorem, the mathematician began by postulating a specific case.
'Começou por postular' uses the infinitive after 'começou por' (began by).
O professor pediu aos alunos que postulem um cenário hipotético.
The professor asked the students to postulate a hypothetical scenario.
'Que postulem' uses the subjunctive mood after 'pediu que' (asked that).
Nós postulamos que a paz é o objetivo final da humanidade.
We postulate that peace is the ultimate goal of humanity.
'Postulamos' is the present tense, first-person plural form.
A validade desta argumentação depende inteiramente do que os autores postulam inicialmente.
The validity of this argumentation depends entirely on what the authors initially postulate.
'Postulam' is the present tense, third-person plural form. The sentence structure is more complex.
O debate girou em torno de se era razoável postular a imortalidade da alma.
The debate revolved around whether it was reasonable to postulate the immortality of the soul.
'Postular' is used in an infinitive clause after 'razoável' (reasonable).
O economista postulou um modelo que explicaria a crise financeira com base em novos fatores.
The economist postulated a model that would explain the financial crisis based on new factors.
'Postulou' is the preterite tense. The subordinate clause 'que explicaria' uses the conditional tense.
É crucial que a comunidade científica postule hipóteses testáveis para o avanço do conhecimento.
It is crucial that the scientific community postulates testable hypotheses for the advancement of knowledge.
'Que postule' uses the subjunctive mood after 'é crucial que' (it is crucial that).
Antes de refutar a teoria, é preciso entender o que o autor tentou postular.
Before refuting the theory, one must understand what the author tried to postulate.
'Tentou postular' uses the infinitive after the verb 'tentar' (to try).
Os advogados postularam que a prova apresentada era inconclusiva.
The lawyers postulated that the evidence presented was inconclusive.
'Postularam' is the preterite tense, third-person plural.
A premissa que ele postulou no início da palestra era bastante controversa.
The premise that he postulated at the beginning of the lecture was quite controversial.
'Postulou' is the preterite tense, used in a relative clause modifying 'premissa'.
Se a ciência postular novas leis, a sociedade terá que se adaptar.
If science postulates new laws, society will have to adapt.
'Postular' is used in the conditional clause ('Se...') and implies a hypothetical future event.
A complexidade do sistema exige que se postule um nível de abstração elevado para sua análise.
The complexity of the system requires that a high level of abstraction be postulated for its analysis.
'Se postule' uses the passive reflexive voice with the subjunctive mood, common in formal Portuguese.
O artigo se propõe a postular uma nova interpretação dos eventos históricos, desafiando visões estabelecidas.
The article proposes to postulate a new interpretation of historical events, challenging established views.
'Se propõe a postular' uses the infinitive after 'se propõe a' (proposes to).
A filosofia analítica frequentemente se baseia em postular o significado de termos para elucidar conceitos.
Analytic philosophy often relies on postulating the meaning of terms to elucidate concepts.
'Postular' is used as a gerund-like noun after the preposition 'em' (in/on).
Caso se postule que a consciência é puramente um fenômeno físico, as implicações éticas são profundas.
Should it be postulated that consciousness is purely a physical phenomenon, the ethical implications are profound.
'Se postule' uses the subjunctive mood in a conditional clause, indicating a hypothetical premise.
A discussão acadêmica postulou que a revolução tecnológica atual é comparável à Revolução Industrial.
The academic discussion postulated that the current technological revolution is comparable to the Industrial Revolution.
'Postulou' is the preterite tense, referring to a completed action within the academic discussion.
Para avançar na pesquisa, é imperativo postular certas condições iniciais que não podem ser diretamente observadas.
To advance in the research, it is imperative to postulate certain initial conditions that cannot be directly observed.
'É imperativo postular' uses the infinitive after 'é imperativo' (it is imperative).
O autor do ensaio busca postular a interconexão entre arte e política através de exemplos concretos.
The author of the essay seeks to postulate the interconnection between art and politics through concrete examples.
'Busca postular' uses the infinitive after 'busca' (seeks).
A habilidade de postular hipóteses complexas é um pilar do pensamento científico.
The ability to postulate complex hypotheses is a pillar of scientific thinking.
'Postular' is used as a noun phrase after the preposition 'de' (of), functioning like a gerund.
A tese se sustenta na audácia de postular uma metafísica que transcende os limites empíricos usuais.
The thesis is sustained by the audacity to postulate a metaphysics that transcends usual empirical limits.
'De postular' uses the infinitive after the preposition 'de', functioning as part of the noun phrase 'audácia de'.
O artigo investiga as implicações de se postular a consciência como um campo quântico emergente.
The article investigates the implications of postulating consciousness as an emergent quantum field.
'Se postular' uses the impersonal/passive reflexive construction with the infinitive, common in highly formal academic writing.
Seria um equívoco postular que a ausência de evidências é evidência de ausência sem uma análise crítica rigorosa.
It would be a mistake to postulate that the absence of evidence is evidence of absence without rigorous critical analysis.
'Postular' is used in an infinitive clause following 'um equívoco' (a mistake).
O debate epistemológico centrou-se na questão de se é possível postular verdades absolutas em um universo em constante mutação.
The epistemological debate centered on the question of whether it is possible to postulate absolute truths in a constantly changing universe.
'É possível postular' uses the infinitive after the adjective 'possível' (possible).
O autor postulou um cenário onde a inteligência artificial alcançaria autoconsciência, uma ideia que gerou intenso debate.
The author postulated a scenario where artificial intelligence would achieve self-awareness, an idea that generated intense debate.
'Postulou' is the preterite tense. The relative clause 'onde...' further describes the scenario.
A estratégia militar postulou que o inimigo reagiria de forma previsível sob certas condições.
The military strategy postulated that the enemy would react predictably under certain conditions.
'Postulou' is the preterite tense. The subordinate clause 'que o inimigo reagiria' uses the conditional tense.
A crítica literária moderna tende a postular múltiplas camadas de significado em qualquer obra.
Modern literary criticism tends to postulate multiple layers of meaning in any work.
'Tende a postular' uses the infinitive after 'tende a' (tends to).
Para aprofundar a compreensão da física quântica, é preciso postular a existência de fenômenos que desafiam a intuição comum.
To deepen the understanding of quantum physics, it is necessary to postulate the existence of phenomena that defy common intuition.
'É preciso postular' uses the infinitive after 'é preciso' (it is necessary).
संबंधित सामग्री
यह शब्द अन्य भाषाओं में
academic के और शब्द
a despeito de
A2के बावजूद। यह एक औपचारिक वाक्यांश है जिसका उपयोग विरोधाभास दिखाने के लिए किया जाता है।
a fim
A2इसका अर्थ है 'के लिए' या 'के उद्देश्य से'। अनौपचारिक रूप से इसका अर्थ 'इच्छा होना' होता है।
a saber
A2यानी; अर्थात।
a título de exemplo
A2एक औपचारिक वाक्यांश जिसका अर्थ है 'उदाहरण के तौर पर'। इसका उपयोग शैक्षणिक या व्यावसायिक संदर्भों में किया जाता है।
abordagem
A2दृष्टिकोण किसी चीज़ से निपटने का एक तरीका है, जैसे कि एक विधि या रणनीति। (दृष्टिकोण एक स्थिति से निपटने का तरीका है।)
abordar
B1किसी विषय या व्यक्ति के पास जाना या उससे निपटना।
abreviar
B1To shorten (a word, phrase, or text).
abreviatura
B1A shortened form of a word or phrase.
abstração
B1The quality of dealing with ideas rather than events.
abstracto
B1विचार या विचार के रूप में मौजूद है लेकिन भौतिक या ठोस अस्तित्व नहीं है।
