*reason*

n. [ OE. resoun, F. raison, fr. L. ratio (akin to Goth. raþjō number, account, garaþjan to count, G. rede speech, reden to speak), fr. reri, ratus, to reckon, believe, think. Cf. Arraign, Rate, Ratio, Ration. ] 1. A thought or a consideration offered in support of a determination or an opinion; a just ground for a conclusion or an action; that which is offered or accepted as an explanation; the efficient cause of an occurrence or a phenomenon; a motive for an action or a determination; proof, more or less decisive, for an opinion or a conclusion; principle; efficient cause; final cause; ground of argument. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll give him reasons for it. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The reason of the motion of the balance in a wheel watch is by the motion of the next wheel. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

This reason did the ancient fathers render, why the church was called “catholic.” Bp. Pearson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtue and vice are not arbitrary things; but there is a natural and eternal reason for that goodness and virtue, and against vice and wickedness. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The faculty or capacity of the human mind by which it is distinguished from the intelligence of the inferior animals; the higher as distinguished from the lower cognitive faculties, sense, imagination, and memory, and in contrast to the feelings and desires. Reason comprises conception, judgment, reasoning, and the intuitional faculty. Specifically, it is the intuitional faculty, or the faculty of first truths, as distinguished from the understanding, which is called the discursive or ratiocinative faculty. [ 1913 Webster ]

We have no other faculties of perceiving or knowing anything divine or human, but by our five senses and our reason. P. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

In common and popular discourse, reason denotes that power by which we distinguish truth from falsehood, and right from wrong, and by which we are enabled to combine means for the attainment of particular ends. Stewart. [ 1913 Webster ]

Reason is used sometimes to express the whole of those powers which elevate man above the brutes, and constitute his rational nature, more especially, perhaps, his intellectual powers; sometimes to express the power of deduction or argumentation. Stewart. [ 1913 Webster ]

By the pure reason I mean the power by which we become possessed of principles. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sense perceives; the understanding, in its own peculiar operation, conceives; the reason, or rationalized understanding, comprehends. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Due exercise of the reasoning faculty; accordance with, or that which is accordant with and ratified by, the mind rightly exercised; right intellectual judgment; clear and fair deductions from true principles; that which is dictated or supported by the common sense of mankind; right conduct; right; propriety; justice. [ 1913 Webster ]

I was promised, on a time,
To have reason for my rhyme. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

But law in a free nation hath been ever public reason; the enacted reason of a parliament, which he denying to enact, denies to govern us by that which ought to be our law; interposing his own private reason, which to us is no law. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most probable way of bringing France to reason would be by the making an attempt on the Spanish West Indies. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Math.) Ratio; proportion. [ Obs. ] Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

By reason of, by means of; on account of; because of. “Spain is thin sown of people, partly by reason of the sterility of the soil.” Bacon. --
In reason,
In all reason, in justice; with rational ground; in a right view. [ 1913 Webster ] When anything is proved by as good arguments as a thing of that kind is capable of, we ought not, in reason, to doubt of its existence. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ] --
It is reason, it is reasonable; it is right. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Yet it were great reason, that those that have children should have greatest care of future times. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Motive; argument; ground; consideration; principle; sake; account; object; purpose; design. See Motive, Sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Reasoned p. pr. & vb. n. Reasoning. ] [ Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n. ] 1. To exercise the rational faculty; to deduce inferences from premises; to perform the process of deduction or of induction; to ratiocinate; to reach conclusions by a systematic comparison of facts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: To carry on a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to formulate and set forth propositions and the inferences from them; to argue. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stand still, that I may reason with you, before the Lord, of all the righteous acts of the Lord. 1 Sam. xii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To converse; to compare opinions. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss; as, I reasoned the matter with my friend. [ 1913 Webster ]

When they are clearly discovered, well digested, and well reasoned in every part, there is beauty in such a theory. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To support with reasons, as a request. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To persuade by reasoning or argument; as, to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men that will not be reasoned into their senses. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons; -- with down; as, to reason down a passion. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To find by logical processes; to explain or justify by reason or argument; -- usually with out; as, to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Governed by reason; being under the 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

By indubitable certainty, I mean that which doth not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting. Bp. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men have no right to what is not reasonable. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not excessive or immoderate; within due limits; proper; as, a reasonable demand, amount, price. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let . . . all things be thought upon
That may, with reasonable swiftness, add
More feathers to our wings. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Rational; just; honest; equitable; fair; suitable; moderate; tolerable. See Rational. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Reasonably; tolerably. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I have a reasonable good ear in music. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being reasonable. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In a reasonable manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Moderately; tolerably. “Reasonably perfect in the language.” Holder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who reasons or argues; as, a fair reasoner; a close reasoner; a logical reasoner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act or process of adducing a reason or reasons; manner of presenting one's reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is offered in argument; proofs or reasons when arranged and developed; course of argument. [ 1913 Webster ]

His reasoning was sufficiently profound. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Argumentation; argument. -- Reasoning, Argumentation. Few words are more interchanged than these; and yet, technically, there is a difference between them. Reasoning is the broader term, including both deduction and induction. Argumentation denotes simply the former, and descends from the whole to some included part; while reasoning embraces also the latter, and ascends from the parts to a whole. See Induction. Reasoning is occupied with ideas and their relations; argumentation has to do with the forms of logic. A thesis is set down: you attack, I defend it; you insist, I reply; you deny, I prove; you distinguish, I destroy your distinctions; my replies balance or overturn your objections. Such is argumentation. It supposes that there are two sides, and that both agree to the same rules. Reasoning, on the other hand, is often a natural process, by which we form, from the general analogy of nature, or special presumptions in the case, conclusions which have greater or less degrees of force, and which may be strengthened or weakened by subsequent experience. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A rationalist. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Such persons are now commonly called “reasonists” and “rationalists, ” to distinguish them from true reasoners and rational inquirers. Waterland. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Destitute of reason; as, a reasonless man or mind. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Void of reason; not warranted or supported by reason; unreasonable. [ 1913 Webster ]

This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. tresun, treisun, traisoun, OF. traïson, F. trahison, L. traditio a giving up, a delivering up, fr. tradere to give up, betray. See Traitor, and cf. Tradition. ] 1. The offense of attempting to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance, or of betraying the state into the hands of a foreign power; disloyalty; treachery. [ 1913 Webster ]

The treason of the murthering in the bed. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In monarchies, the killing of the sovereign, or an attempt to take his life, is treason. In England, to imagine or compass the death of the king, or of the queen consort, or of the heir apparent to the crown, is high treason, as are many other offenses created by statute. In the United States, treason is confined to the actual levying of war against the United States, or to an adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Loosely, the betrayal of any trust or confidence; treachery; perfidy. [ 1913 Webster ]

If he be false, she shall his treason see. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Petit treason. See under Petit. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to treason; consisting of treason; involving the crime of treason, or partaking of its guilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Most men's heads had been intoxicated with imaginations of plots and treasonable practices. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Treacherous; traitorous; perfidious; insidious. [ 1913 Webster ]

--Trea"son*a*ble*ness, n. -- Trea"son*a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Treasonable. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The treasonous book of the Court of King James. Pepys. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. un- not + reason. ] Want of reason; unreasonableness; absurdity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abbot of Unreason. See Abbot of Misrule, under Abbot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + reason. ] To undo, disprove, or refute by reasoning. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To unreason the equity of God's proceedings. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not reasonable; irrational; immoderate; exorbitant. -- Un*rea"son*a*ble*ness, n. -- Un*rea"son*a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not supported by reason; unreasonable. “Unreasoned habits.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

See accommodating.
See aching.
See ailing.
See aiming.
See alarming.
See altering.
See appreciating.
See approving.
See aspiring.
See assisting.
See attempting.
See attending.
See bearing.
See befitting.
See beginning.
See believing.
See bleaching.
See bleeding.
See blemishing.
See blenching.
See blossoming.
See blushing.
See boding.
See branching.
See breathing.
See burning.
See calculating.
See ceasing.
See changing.
See charming.
See communicating.
See complaining.
See complying.
See conceiving.
See conducing.
See confessing.
See conniving.
See consenting.
See considering.
See conspiring.
See consulting.
See consuming.
See contending.
See contriving.
See conversing.
See convincing.
See dawning.
See decaying.
See delaying.
See depending.
See derogating.
See deserving.
See desiring.
See despairing.
See detesting.
See deviating.
See differencing.
See discerning.
See discording.
See discriminating.
See disobliging.
See dispensing.
See dissembling.
See dissolving.
See distinguishing.
See distracting.
See disturbing.
See doubting.
See dreading.
See drooping.
See ebbing.
See echoing.
See edifying.
See ending.
See enduring.
See engaging.
See enjoying.
See entering.
See enterprising.
See entertaining.
See envying.
See existing.
See fadging.
See fading.
See fainting.
See faltering.
See fearing.
See feigning.
See fighting.
See fitting.
See flagging.
See flattering.
See flinching.
See folding.
See forbearing.
See foreboding.
See foreseeing.
See forgiving.
See giving.
See grudging.
See harming.
See heeding.
See hesitating.
See hoping.
See hurting.
See importing.
See imposing.
See improving.
See interesting.
See intermitting.
See intoxicating.
See inviting.
See jarring.
See laboring.
See lingering.
See listening.
See loving.
See meddling.
See meriting.
See mistrusting.
See moving.
See murmuring.
See obliging.
See observing.
See offending.
See opening.
See pardoning.
See paying.
See perceiving.
See performing.
See perishing.
See pitying.
See pleasing.
See possessing.
See preaching.
See prepossessing.
See presuming.
See pretending.
See prevailing.
See prevaricating.
See profiting.
See promising.
See proving.
See quailing.
See questioning.
See reasoning.
See recalling.
See reclining.
See recurring.
See referring.
See reflecting.
See refunding.
See refusing.
See rejoicing.
See relaxing.
See relishing.
See remembering.
See repenting.
See repining.
See reproving.
See repulsing.
See resisting.
See resolving.
See resting.
See returning.
See rewarding.
See sanctifying.
See satisfying.
See searching.
See seeing.
See setting.
See shrinking.
See sinking.
See sleeping.
See slipping.
See slumbering.
See speaking.
See stinting.
See stirring.
See stooping.
See submitting.
See sufficing.
See suiting.
See surging.
See suspecting.
See sweating.
See swerving.
See sympathizing.
See tasting.
See thriving.
See tiring.
See toiling.
See trading.
See trembling.
See trespassing.
See trifling.
See vacillating.
See varying.
See walking.
See wandering.
See waning.
See wasting.
See wavering.
See weeping.
See winking.
See winning.
See withdrawing.
See withering.
See wondering.
See working.
See writing.
See yielding.
----- and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The above classes of words are unlimited in extent, and such compounds may be formed by any writer or speaker at will from almost all the adjectives or participles in the language, excepting those which have a recognized and usual negative correspondent with the prefix -in. No attempt will be made, therefore, to define them all in this Dictionary; many will be omitted from its Vocabulary which are negations of the simple word, and are readily explained by prefixing a not to the latter. Derivatives of these words in -ly and -ness will also, for the most part, be omitted for the same or similar reasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

There will be inserted as separate articles with definitions, the following: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Those which have acquired an opposed or contrary, instead of a merely negative, meaning; as, unfriendly, ungraceful, unpalatable, unquiet, and the like; or else an intensive sense more than a prefixed not would express; as, unending, unparalleled, undisciplined, undoubted, unsafe, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Those which have the value of independent words, inasmuch as the simple words are either not used at all, or are rarely, or at least much less frequently, used; as, unavoidable, unconscionable, undeniable, unspeakable, unprecedented, unruly, and the like; or inasmuch as they are used in a different sense from the usual meaning of the primitive, or especially in one of the significations of the latter; as, unaccountable, unalloyed, unbelieving, unpretending, unreserved, and the like; or inasmuch as they are so frequently and familiarly used that they are hardly felt to be of negative origin; as, uncertain, uneven, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Those which are anomalous, provincial, or, for some other reason, not desirable to be used, and are so indicated; as, unpure for impure, unsatisfaction for dissatisfaction, unexpressible for inexpressible, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

II. Un- is prefixed to nouns to express the absence of, or the contrary of, that which the noun signifies; as, unbelief, unfaith, unhealth, unrest, untruth, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Compounds of this last class are given in full in their proper order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]