| Reason (reason) |
|---|
| n. | (r***emacr]"z'n) |
|---|
| Rea"son |
[OE.
resoun, F. raison, fr. L. ratio (akin to Goth.
raþj number, account, garaþjan to
count, G. rede speech, reden to speak |
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.
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.
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.
Ratio; proportion.
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| Reason (reason) |
|---|
| v. i. | (r***emacr]"z'n) |
|---|
| Rea"son |
| [imp. *** p. p. Reasoned (-z'nd)] p.
pr. *** vb. n. Reasoning.] [Cf. F. raisonner.
See Reason, n.] |
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.
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.
To converse; to compare opinions.
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| Reason (reason) |
|---|
| v. t. | |
|---|
| Rea"son |
|
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.
To support with reasons, as a
request.
To persuade by reasoning or argument; as,
to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his
plan.
To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons;
-- with down; as, to reason down a passion.
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.
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