Definitions Related words Mentions Lyrics History

Literary notes about propound (AI summary)

The term "propound" has long been employed in literature as a formal way to introduce or set forth theories, ideas, or proposals for consideration. In classical texts like Plato’s dialogues [1, 2] and later philosophical works by Hobbes [3], the word conveys the act of presenting a notion with deliberation and authority. Similarly, in religious and allegorical narratives such as Bunyan’s works [4, 5, 6], it is used to mark the moment when an idea or ideal is offered up for debate or acceptance. Authors in varied genres—ranging from Whitman’s reflective prose [7] and Wagner’s revolutionary discussions [8] to Chesterton’s critiques [9, 10] and even to the playful puzzles in Dudeney’s work [11]—employ "propound" to invite their audience into a contemplative dialogue. Meanwhile, figures like Santayana [12], Freud [13], and Shaw [14] use the term to denote the structured presentation of complex arguments, underscoring its enduring role as a vehicle for intellectual and rhetorical inquiry throughout literary history.
  1. ‘I do not wonder at your being ashamed to propound such a fiction.’
    — from The Republic of Plato by Plato
  2. 'I do not wonder at your being ashamed to propound such a fiction.'
    — from The Republic by Plato
  3. Neverthelesse, I may propound such things to the consideration of more learned Divines, as the text it selfe suggesteth.
    — from Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
  4. Three things let me propound; then I submit To those that are my betters, as is fit.
    — from The Pilgrim's Progress from this world to that which is to come by John Bunyan
  5. Not a step further, unless you will do in what I propound as we.
    — from The Pilgrim's Progress from this world to that which is to come by John Bunyan
  6. Well, if you please, propound another sign how this work of grace discovereth itself where it is.
    — from The Pilgrim's Progress from this world to that which is to come by John Bunyan
  7. If anybody cares to know what I think—and have long thought and avow'd—about them, I am entirely willing to propound.
    — from Complete Prose Works by Walt Whitman
  8. In these articles I meant to propound my ideas (in my revolutionary way) on the subject of modern art in its relation to society.
    — from My Life — Volume 1 by Richard Wagner
  9. For owing to that historic fallacy with which I have just dealt, numbers of readers will expect me, when I propound an ideal, to propound a new ideal.
    — from What's Wrong with the World by G. K. Chesterton
  10. For owing to that historic fallacy with which I have just dealt, numbers of readers will expect me, when I propound an ideal, to propound a new ideal.
    — from What's Wrong with the World by G. K. Chesterton
  11. Another person got a wrong answer to the following little puzzle which I heard him propound: "A man placed three sovereigns and one shilling in a bag.
    — from Amusements in Mathematics by Henry Ernest Dudeney
  12. If it be true that matter is sinful, the logic of this truth is far from being what the fanatics imagine who commonly propound it.
    — from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana
  13. We may, to be sure, propound the question: what forces the psychological activity during sleep to such regression?
    — from A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud
  14. You propound a certain social substance, sexual attraction to wit, for dramatic distillation; and I distil it for you.
    — from Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philosophy by Bernard Shaw

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, Scrabble


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Compound Your Joy