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ratiocination

[ rash-ee-os-uh-ney-shuhn, -oh-suh-, rat-ee- ]

/ ˌræʃ iˌɒs əˈneɪ ʃən, -ˌoʊ sə-, ˌræt i- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ratiocination ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the process of logical reasoning.

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A bet is synonymous with a wager, but what does it mean in New York?

Often it means something is impossible.

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It serves as an apology.

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Origin of ratiocination

1520–30; <Latin ratiōcinātiōn- (stem of ratiōcinātiō), equivalent to ratiōcināt(us) (see ratiocinate) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM ratiocination

ra·ti·oc·i·na·tive, adjective

Words nearby ratiocination

rating badge, Ratingen, rating nut, ratio, ratiocinate, ratiocination, ratiometer, ration, rational, rationale, rational-emotive therapy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for ratiocination

I allude to Dr. Thomas Brown, whose theory of ratiocination is peculiar.
A System of Logic: Ratiocinative and Inductive|John Stuart Mill
Thou shalt comprehend by intuition what will never be given thee by ratiocination.
Shadows of Flames|Amelie Rives
In the last resort, the value of every probability is fixed by "ratiocination."
A Candid Examination of Theism|George John Romanes
On the other hand, the theory of free-will can be demolished by ratiocination!
The Human Machine|E. Arnold Bennett

It would be difficult to cite a more preposterous example of ratiocination.
Woman in Science|John Augustine Zahm

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