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rationale - 4 dictionary results

ra⋅tion⋅ale

  [rash-uh-nal]
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–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ra·tion·ale   (rāsh'ə-nāl')   
n.  
  1. Fundamental reasons; the basis.
  2. An exposition of principles or reasons.

[Late Latin ratiōnāle, from neuter of Latin ratiōnālis, rational; see rational.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Rationale

Ra`tion*a"le\, n. [L. rationalis, neut. rationale. See Rational, a.] An explanation or exposition of the principles of some opinion, action, hypothesis, phenomenon, or like; also, the principles themselves.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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rationale 
1657, from L.L. rationale, noun use of neuter of L. rationalis "of reason" (see rational).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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