ratiocinate en · VERB
Pronunciation
- /ˌɹæʃiˈɑsəˌneɪt/ (General-American)
- /ˌɹætiˈosəˌneɪt/ (General-American)
Etymology
From Latin ratiōcinor (“to reckon, argue”) + -ate, from ratiō + -cinor. First use appears c.1643 in the writings of Kenelm Digby.
Meanings
-
(formal, intransitive, transitive) To use the powers of the mind logically and methodically; to reason.
"Observe the relative position," returned the Doctor with a smile. "It is your attitude to believe through thick and thin in one man's judgment—your own. I follow the same opinion, but critically and with open eyes. Which is the more irrational—I leave it to yourself." "Oh, my dear fellow!" cried Casimir, "[…] don't ratiocinate with me."
1887, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 6, in The Treasure of Franchard:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ratiocinated | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| ratiocinated | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| ratiocinating | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| ratiocinates | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |