c.1225, "statement in an argument," also "intellectual faculty that adopts actions to ends," from Anglo-Fr.
resoun, O.Fr.
raison, from L.
rationem (nom.
ratio) "reckoning, understanding, motive, cause," from
ratus, pp. of
reri "to reckon, think," from PIE base
*rei- "to reason, count" (cf. O.E.
rædan "to advise; see
read). Meaning "sanity" is recorded from, c.1380. The verb (c.1300) is from O.Fr.
raisoner, from L.L.
rationare "to discourse." Originally "to question (someone)," sense of "employ reasoning (with someone)" is from 1847, and that of "to think in a logical manner" is from 1593. Phrase
it stands to reason is from 1632.
Age of Reason "the Enlightenment" is first recorded 1794, as the title of Tom Paine's book.