Etymology: < (i) Anglo-Norman proposiciun, proposicion, proposicioun, propositiun, preposiscion and Middle French proposicion, Middle French, French proposition intention, theme, plan (first half of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman), proposal, something put forward for consideration, approval, etc. (c1265 in Old French), (in logic) statement, something asserted or avowed (c1265 in Old French), (in logic) premise of a syllogism, especially the major one (c1300 in Old French), exhibition, display (first half of the 14th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman), (in music) subject of a fugue (1842), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin prōpositiōn-, prōpositiō act of posting up, act of picturing in the mind, statement, statement of a proposition, major premise of a syllogism, case proposed for discussion, in post-classical Latin also argument, proof (4th cent.), (in mathematics) formal statement of a truth to be demonstrated or an operation to be performed (1509) < prōposit- , past participial stem of prōpōnere propone v. + -iō -ion suffix¹. Compare Old Occitan propozicio , proposicio (mid 14th cent.; Occitan proposicion ), Catalan proposició (late 13th cent.), Spanish proposición (c1275), Portuguese proposição (14th cent.), Italian proposizione (early 14th cent.). Compare earlier propose n.With Middle English forms in pre- compare Anglo-Norman preposiscion and see discussion at pro- prefix¹. In loaves of proposition (see sense 3) after Anglo-Norman pains de propositiun (second half of the 12th cent.) and its models post-classical Latin panes propositionis (Vetus Latina); compare Hellenistic Greek ἄρτοι τῆς προθέσεως , in turn after Hebrew (see shewbread n.). In table of proposition (see sense 3) after post-classical Latin mensa propositionis (Vulgate).

Etymology: < proposition n. (although this is first attested slightly later in the relevant sense).