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To: Mamzelle
Does one pose or posit a rhetorical question, or a questioning assumption?

Ladies and gentlemen, there is a sharpshooter in the house.

A questioning assumption? Come on.

To re-iterate, you pose a question and posit an assumption.

To pose means to present for consideration.

To posit means that the following assumption will be used as a starting point for the argument, and the assumption posited will be assumed to be true for the purposes of the current argument. (see definitions 2 and 3)

Main Entry: pos·it

Pronunciation: 'pä-z&t

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): pos·it·ed /'pä-z&-t&d, 'päz-t&d/; pos·it·ing /'pä-z&-ti[ng], 'päz-ti[ng]/

Etymology: Latin positus, past participle of ponere

Date: 1647

1 : to dispose or set firmly : FIX

2 : to assume or affirm the existence of : POSTULATE

3 : to propose as an explanation : SUGGEST

Main Entry: 1pose

Pronunciation: 'pOz

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): posed; pos·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French poser, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin pausare, from Late Latin, to stop, rest, pause, from Latin pausa pause

Date: 14th century

transitive senses

1 a : to present for attention or consideration "Let me pose a question." b : to put or set forth : OFFER

2 a : to put or set in place b : to place (as a model) in a studied attitude

intransitive senses

1 : to assume a posture or attitude usually for artistic purposes

2 : to affect an attitude or character usually to deceive or impress

43 posted on 09/16/2003 5:46:36 AM PDT by HIDEK6
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To: HIDEK6
Supposing this quarrel relevant, where should we deposit it?
44 posted on 09/16/2003 7:25:05 AM PDT by Mamzelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies ]

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