agreeable to reason or sound judgment; logical: a reasonable choice for chairman.
2.
not exceeding the limit prescribed by reason; not excessive: reasonable terms.
3.
moderate, esp. in price; not expensive: The coat was reasonable but not cheap.
4.
endowed with reason.
5.
capable of rational behavior, decision, etc.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME resonable < MF raisonnable < L ratiōnābilis.See reason, -able]
—Related forms
rea·son·a·ble·ness, rea·son·a·bil·i·ty, noun
rea·son·a·bly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. intelligent, judicious, wise, equitable. Reasonable,rational refer to the faculty of reasoning. Rational can refer to the reasoning faculty itself or to something derived from that faculty: rational powers; a rational analysis. It can also mean sane or sensible: She was no longer rational; a rational plan. Reasonable most often means sensible: A reasonable supposition is one which appeals to our common sense. 2. equitable, fair, just. See moderate.
1303, "having sound judgment, sane, rational," from O.Fr. raisonable, from L. rationabilis, from ratio (see ratio).
"What the majority of people consider to be 'reasonable' is that about which there is agreement, if not among all, at least among a substantial number of people; 'reasonable' for most people, has nothing to do with reason, but with consensus." [Erich Fromm]
Meaning "moderate in price" is recorded from 1667.
Main Entry: rea·son·able Function: adjective 1 a: being in accordance with reason, fairness, duty, or prudence b: of an appropriate
degree or kind c: supported or justified by fact or circumstance <a reasonable belief that force was necessary for self-defense> d:COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE 2: applying reason or logic; broadly:RATIONAL 1 <a reasonable mind> —rea·son·able·nessnoun
—rea·son·ablyadverb
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.
Rea"son*a*ble\, a. [OE. resonable, F. raisonnable, fr. L. rationabilis. See Reason, n.]1. Having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; rational; as, a reasonable being. 2. Governed by reason; being under influence of reason; thinking, speaking or acting rationally, or according to the dictates of reason; agreeable to reason; just; rational; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men. By indubitable certainty, I mean that which doth not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting. --Bp. Wilkins. Men have no right to what is not reasonable. --Burke. 3. Not excessive or immoderate; within due limits; proper; as, a reasonable demand, amount, price. Let . . . all things be thought upon That may, with reasonable swiftness, add More feathers to you wings. --Shak. Syn: Rational; just; honest; equitable; fair; suitable; moderate; tolerable. See Rational.
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