6 results for: Rationale

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ra·tion·ale

Audio Help [rash-uh-nal] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	the fundamental reason or reasons serving to account for something.

2.	a statement of reasons.

3.	a reasoned exposition of principles.

[Origin: 1650–60; < L: neut. of ratiōnālis rational

]

—Synonyms 1. logic, basis, grounds.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Rationale

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ra·tion·ale Audio Help (rāsh'ə-nāl') Pronunciation Key
n.

Fundamental reasons; the basis.
An exposition of principles or reasons.

[Late Latin ratiōnāle, from neuter of Latin ratiōnālis, rational; see rational.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
rationale

1657, from L.L. rationale, noun use of neuter of L. rationalis "of reason" (see rational).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

rationale
noun
(law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature); "the rationale for capital punishment"; "the principles of internal-combustion engines"

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Rationale

Ra"tion*al\, a. [L. rationalis: cf. F. rationnel. See Ratio, Reason, and cf. Rationale.]

1. Relating to reason; not physical; mental.

Moral philosophy was his chiefest end; for the rational, the natural, and mathematics . . . were but simple pastimes in comparison of the other. --Sir T. North.

2. Having reason, or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with reason or understanding; reasoning.

It is our glory and happiness to have a rational nature. --Law.

3. Agreeable to reason; not absurd, preposterous, extravagant, foolish, fanciful, or the like; wise; judicious; as, rational conduct; a rational man.

4. (Chem.) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; -- said of formul[ae]. See under Formula.

Rational horizon. (Astron.) See Horizon, 2 (b) .

Rational quantity (Alg.), one that can be expressed without the use of a radical sign, or in extract parts of unity; -- opposed to irrational or radical quantity.

Rational symptom (Med.), one elicited by the statements of the patient himself and not as the result of a physical examination.

Syn: Sane; sound; intelligent; reasonable; sensible; wise; discreet; judicious.

Usage: Rational, reasonable. Rational has reference to reason as a faculty of the mind, and is opposed to traditional; as, a rational being, a rational state of mind, rational views, etc. In these cases the speculative reason is more particularly, referred to. Reasonable has reference to the exercise of this faculty for practical purposes, and means, governed or directed by reason; as, reasonable prospect of success.

What higher in her society thou find'st Attractive, human, rational, love still. --Milton.

A law may be reasonable in itself, although a man does not allow it, or does not know the reason of the lawgivers. --Swift.

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