1. (

• contend ,
• postulate

) maintain or assert; "He contended that Communism had no future" ;

2. (

• postulate ,
• posit

) take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom; "He posited three basic laws of nature" ;

3. (

• necessitate ,
• ask ,
• postulate ,
• need ,
• require ,
• take ,
• involve ,
• call_for ,
• demand

) require as useful, just, or proper; "It takes nerve to do what she did"; "success usually requires hard work"; "This job asks a lot of patience and skill"; "This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice"; "This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert"; "This intervention does not postulate a patient's consent" ;