Academic Terms Vocabulary

to put forward as fact or as a basis for argument

“The theory posits that language shapes thought.”

Origin: Latin positus, past participle of ponere `to place, put`

to suggest or assume as a basis for reasoning

“Einstein postulated the constancy of light speed.”

Origin: Latin postulare `to demand, claim` from poscere `to ask, demand`

to put forward as a hypothesis

“Researchers hypothesize a link between the variables.”

Origin: Greek hypothesis `foundation, basis` from hypo `under` + tithenai `to place`

to extend application of facts to an unknown situation

“We cannot extrapolate these findings to all cases.”

Origin: Latin extra `outside` + polire `to smooth` (influenced by interpolate)

to insert something between fixed points

“The missing data was interpolated from known values.”

Origin: Latin interpolare `to refurbish, alter` from inter `between` + polare `to polish`

to analyze and develop an idea in detail

“The critic explicated the poem's symbolism.”

Origin: Latin explicare `to unfold, explain` from ex- `out` + plicare `to fold`

to present and explain a theory systematically

“She expounded her views on economic reform.”

Origin: Latin exponere `to set forth, explain` from ex- `out` + ponere `to put, place`

to make something clear; explain

“The professor elucidated the complex concept.”

Origin: Late Latin elucidare `to make clear` from e- `out` + lucidus `light, clear` from lux `light`

to help clarify or explain

“New research illuminates the origins of the disease.”

Origin: Latin illuminare `to light up, make bright` from in- `upon` + luminare `to light` from lumen `light`

to emphasize the importance of

“The incident underscores the need for reform.”

Origin: From under (Old English under) + score `to mark` from Old Norse skor `notch, tally`

to found or base on something

“The argument is predicated on false assumptions.”

Origin: Latin praedicare `to proclaim, declare` from prae- `before` + dicare `to make known`

to require as a precondition

“The theory presupposes rational actors.”

Origin: Medieval Latin praesupponere from prae- `before` + supponere `to place under` from sub- `under` + ponere `to place`

to remove a need or difficulty

“The new process obviates the need for approval.”

Origin: Late Latin obviare `to prevent` from Latin obvius `in the way` from ob- `against` + via `way`

to prevent from happening; make impossible

“Budget constraints preclude further expansion.”

Origin: Latin praecludere `to shut off` from prae- `before` + claudere `to shut`

to take the place of something previously in use

“Digital records have superseded paper files.”

Origin: Latin supersedere `to sit above, refrain from` from super- `above` + sedere `to sit`

a thing that existed or came before another

“The historical antecedents of the conflict are complex.”

Origin: Latin antecedentem, present participle of antecedere `to go before` from ante- `before` + cedere `to go`

to come together to form one mass or whole

“The various groups coalesced into a single movement.”

Origin: Latin coalescere `to grow together` from co- `together` + alescere `to grow up` from alere `to nourish`

to combine two or more things into one

“Critics accused him of conflating separate issues.”

Origin: Latin conflare `to blow together, fuse` from con- `together` + flare `to blow`

to divide into two branches or parts

“The road bifurcates at the village center.”

Origin: Medieval Latin bifurcatus `two-forked` from Latin bi- `two` + furca `fork`

to divide into two opposing groups or kinds

“We shouldn't dichotomize complex issues.”

Origin: Greek dikhotomia `a cutting in two` from dikho `in two, apart` + temnein `to cut`

concerned with or involving the theory of a subject

“The paper explores the theoretical basis of the model.”

Origin: Late Latin theoreticus from Greek theoretikos `contemplative` from theorein `to look at, consider` from theoros `spectator`

a system of methods used in a particular area of study

“The research methodology was rigorous.”

Origin: Modern Latin methodologia from Greek methodos `pursuit of knowledge` (from meta `after` + hodos `way`) + -logia `study of`