To put forward or assume something as a basis for argument or reasoning, especially without proof. It means to propose an idea or theory as a starting point for discussion or further investigation.
From Latin 'positus,' past participle of 'ponere' meaning 'to place' or 'to put.' The academic sense developed in the 17th century from the idea of 'placing' an assumption or proposition before others for consideration.
Think of 'posit' as placing a chess piece on the board - you're making a strategic move in intellectual discussion, positioning an idea that others can then respond to, challenge, or build upon. It's more tentative than 'prove' but more formal than 'guess.'
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