Postsphenoid
(Post*sphe"noid) a. [Pref. post- + sphenoid.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the posterior
part of the sphenoid bone.
Post-temporal
(Post-tem"po*ral) a. [Pref. post- + temporal.] (Anat.) Situated back of the temporal
bone or the temporal region of the skull; — applied especially to a bone which usually connects the supraclavicle
with the skull in the pectoral arch of fishes. — n. A post-temporal bone.
Posttertiary
(Post*ter"ti*a*ry) a. [Pref. post- + tertiary.] (Geol.) Following, or more recent than, the
Tertiary; Quaternary.
Post-tragus
(||Post"-tra`gus) n. [NL. See Post-, and Tragus.] (Anat.) A ridge within and behind the
tragus in the ear of some animals.
Post-tympanic
(Post`-tym*pan"ic) a. [Pref. post- + tympanic.] (Anat.) Situated behind the tympanum,
or in the skull, behind the auditory meatus.
Postulant
(Pos"tu*lant) n. [F., fr. L. postulans, p. pr. of postulare. See Postulate.] One who makes
a request or demand; hence, a candidate.
Postulate
(Pos"tu*late) n. [L. postulatum a demand, request, prop. p. p. of postulare to demand,
prob. a dim. of poscere to demand, prob. for porcscere; akin to G. forschen to search, investigate,
Skr. prach to ask, and L. precari to pray: cf. F. postulat. See Pray.]
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. (Geom.) The enunciation of a self- evident problem, in distinction from an axiom, which is the enunciation
of a self-evident theorem.
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. Postulate
(Pos"tu*late), a. Postulated. [Obs.] Hudibras.
Postulate
(Pos"tu*late) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Postulated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Postulating.]
1. To beg, or assume without proof; as, to postulate conclusions.
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. To invite earnestly; to solicit. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.
Postulated
(Pos"tu*la`ted) a. Assumed without proof; as, a postulated inference. Sir T. Browne.
Postulation
(Pos`tu*la"tion) n. [L. postulatio: cf. F. postulation.] The act of postulating, or that which is
postulated; assumption; solicitation; suit; cause.
Postulatory
(Pos"tu*la*to*ry) a. [L. postulatorius.] Of the nature of a postulate. Sir T. Browne.
Postulatum
(||Pos`tu*la"tum) n.; pl. Postulata [L. See Postulate, n.] A postulate. Addison.
Postumous
(Pos"tu*mous) a. See Posthumous. [R.]
