Part 82

Yet it were great reason, that those that have children should have greatest care of future times.

Bacon.

Syn. -- Motive; argument; ground; consideration; principle; sake; account; object; purpose; design. See Motive, Sense.

Rea"son (r"z'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Reasoned (-z'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Reasoning.] [Cf. F. raisonner. See Reason, n.] 1. To exercise the rational faculty; to deduce inferences from premises; to perform the process of deduction or of induction; to ratiocinate; to reach conclusions by a systematic comparison of facts.

2. Hence: To carry on a process of deduction or of induction, in order to convince or to confute; to formulate and set forth propositions and the inferences from them; to argue.

Stand still, that I may reason with you, before the Lord, of all the righteous acts of the Lord.

1 Sam. xii. 7.

3. To converse; to compare opinions. Shak.

Rea"son, v. t. 1. To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss; as, I reasoned the matter with my friend.

When they are clearly discovered, well digested, and well reasoned in every part, there is beauty in such a theory.

T. Burnet.

2. To support with reasons, as a request. [R.] Shak.

3. To persuade by reasoning or argument; as, to reason one into a belief; to reason one out of his plan.

Men that will not be reasoned into their senses.

L'Estrange.

4. To overcome or conquer by adducing reasons; -- with down; as, to reason down a passion.

5. To find by logical processes; to explain or justify by reason or argument; -- usually with out; as, to reason out the causes of the librations of the moon.

Rea"son*a*ble (-*b'l), a. [OE. resonable, F. raisonnable, fr. L. rationabilis. See Reason, n.] 1. Having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; rational; as, a reasonable being.

2. Governed by reason; being under the influence of reason; thinking, speaking, or acting rationally, or according to the dictates of reason; agreeable to reason; just; rational; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men.

By indubitable certainty, I mean that which doth not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting.

Bp. Wilkins.

Men have no right to what is not reasonable.

Burke.

3. Not excessive or immoderate; within due limits; proper; as, a reasonable demand, amount, price.

Let . . . all things be thought upon That may, with reasonable swiftness, add More feathers to our wings.

Shak.

Syn. -- Rational; just; honest; equitable; fair; suitable; moderate; tolerable. See Rational.

Rea"son*a*ble, adv. Reasonably; tolerably. [Obs.]