ratiocination
[rash-ee-os-uh-ney-shuh n, -oh-suh-, rat-ee-]
- the process of logical reasoning.
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Origin of ratiocination
1520–30; < Latin ratiōcinātiōn- (stem of ratiōcinātiō), equivalent to ratiōcināt(us) (see ratiocinate) + -iōn- -ion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ratiocination
Historical Examples
Yes, Uncle Reub'; ratiocination is a good word in its place.
Moriah's Mourning and Other Half-Hour SketchesRuth McEnery Stuart
Its two constituent parts are ratiocination and description.
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. in Nine VolumesSamuel Johnson
So, when the steaks were done, we besought him to lay bare his system of ratiocination.
Sixes and SevensO. Henry
Words seem to be the vehicles rather of ratiocination than of emotion.
Of Walks and Walking ToursArnold Haultain
To be in love is in a measure to part company with the power of ratiocination.
Mlle. FouchetteCharles Theodore Murray
Word Origin and History for ratiocination
n.
"process of reasoning," 1520s, from Latin ratiocinationem (nominative ratiocinatio) "a reasoning, calm reasoning," from past participle stem of ratiocinare "to calculate, deliberate," from ratio (see ratio) + -cinari, which probably is related to conari "to try" (see conation).
Most writers make ratiocination synonymous with reasoning. J.S. Mill and others hold that the word is usually limited to necessary reasoning. [Century Dictionary]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper