postulate

verb

• 1suggest or assume the existence, fact, or truth of (something) as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief:his theory postulated a rotatory movement for hurricanes [with clause]:she postulated that the environmentalists might have a case

• 2(in ecclesiastical law) nominate or elect (someone) to an ecclesiastical office subject to the sanction of a higher authority: the chapter was then allowed to postulate the bishop of Bath

noun

• a thing suggested or assumed as true as the basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief:perhaps the postulate of Babylonian influence on Greek astronomy is incorrect
• Mathematics an assumption used as a basis for mathematical reasoning.