ratiocinate

[rash-ee-os-uh-neyt, -oh-suh-, rat-ee-]

See more synonyms for ratiocinate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), ra·ti·oc·i·nat·ed, ra·ti·oc·i·nat·ing.

to reason; carry on a process of reasoning.

Origin of ratiocinate

1635–45; < Latin ratiōcinātus past participle of ratiōcinārī to reckon, calculate, conclude, verbal derivative of ratiō reason

Related formsra·ti·oc·i·na·tor, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for ratiocinate

consider, examine, ruminate, revolve, ponder, brood, deliberate, comprehend, cogitate, analyze, infer, cerebrate, mull, evaluate, muse, reflect, reason, meditate, stew, imagine

Examples from the Web for ratiocinate

Historical Examples of ratiocinate

But I give you warning—Stasie may weep and Henri ratiocinate—it will not serve you twice.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson

British Dictionary definitions for ratiocinate

ratiocinate

verb

(intr) to think or argue logically and methodically; reason

Derived Formsratiocination, nounratiocinative, adjectiveratiocinator, noun

Word Origin for ratiocinate

C17: from Latin ratiōcinārī to calculate, from ratiō reason

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ratiocinate

"to reason," 1640s, from Latin ratiocinatus, past participle of ratiocinare (see ratiocination). Related: Ratiocinant.