ratiocination

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

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

the process of logical reasoning.

Nearby words

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

ra·ti·oc·i·na·tive, adjective

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