postulate
pos-tu-late
noun
A fundamental principle or assumption accepted as true without proof.
"Euclid's geometry is built on several postulates."
verb
To suggest or assume something as true, often as a basis for reasoning.
"Scientists postulate the existence of dark matter."
Thesaurus
Synonyms: posit, contend, take, ask, call for, require, necessitate, demand, need, involve