rationableadj.1
/ˈraʃ(ə)nəbl/, /ˈraʃn̩əbl/, U.S. /ˈræʃ(ə)nəb(ə)l/, /ˈreɪʃ(ə)nəb(ə)l/ Now rare.
1. Originally Scottish. Of a thing: in accordance with or conformable to reason; reasonable, just, fair.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > moderateness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective]
evenlya1200
methefully?c1225
renable?1305
reasonablea1325
measurablec1330
skillwisea1340
moderatea1398
temperate1398
meetlya1400
measurablyc1450
rationablec1475
competent1535
midway1573
modest1582
sober1619
medious1657
slack1662
meeverly1819
low key1941
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adjective] > in accordance with reason
reasonablea1382
rationablec1475
just1490
rational1531
correct1705
c1475 tr. Henri de Mondeville Surgery (Wellcome) f. 170 (MED) The 3 is aboute questiouns þat ben here necessarie, racionable.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 38 Of that desyre content was euerie wicht, Tha thocht it wes rationabill and richt.
1570–80 in 14th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1896) App. III. 44 Gyffand vs..ane rationabyll drink-syluer.
c1580 ( in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Edinb. (1869) I. 4 It is ordanit..the alderman baillies and counsaile by this vitaile of rationable pryce as thai may.
1662 J. Chandler tr. J. B. van Helmont Oriatrike 19 Whatsoever is akin to truth, this reason judgeth rationable, and agreeable to Reason.
1685 Factious Citizen III. 43 This was a happy encounter, and the most feasible and rationable I ever undertook.
1770 J. Towers Evangelical Poems 131 'Tis in fact a rationable cause, Well fit and suited to fond reason's laws.
1844 Tioga (Wellsboro, Pa.) Eagle 14 Aug. 2/3 These argumentators upon the nice rules of international etiquette are content to crawl on undisturbed in the sunshine of monarchial thraldom, ignorant of the blessings of rationable freedom.
1924 P. Mackaye This Fine-pretty World ii. 94 So, bein' interpreted, hit mought be this-away: Ef a hull herd of swine kin be possessioned of a pack of deevils, one leetle shoat mought be possessioned of a baby.—Hain't that rationable?
1952 Amer. Polit. Sci. Rev. 46 1125 Instinctive drives are, in this sense, rationable; they are admitted, by the mature individual, to influence on his behavior only on condition of contributing to the going program of action.
2. Of a sentient being: having the faculty of reasoning; capable of reasoning; open to reason; rational, sensible.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adjective]
wittyc1300
reasonablec1350
skillwise1357
skilfulc1380
rationala1398
rationablec1480
reasonedc1487
logicala1652
c1480 (a1400) St. Andrew l. 716 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 84 For sik techere as he wes þane, and sa racionable a mane.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. I.viiiv Quhow mekil mair power thane giffis god to his racionabil creaturs (quhilk ar men).
1620 J. Melton Astrologaster 26 Astrologers or Astronomers,..that thinke Starres rationable Creatures, are worthy to be accounted most unreasonable and senselesse themselves.
1649 J. Bulwer Pathomyotomia ii. ii. 131 Laughter..is a passion of the Rationable part.
1687 M. B. Whiting Let. 2 Aug. in R. Law Eng. in W. Afr. (2001) II. 299 Mr Halford continews still verry ill, still sometimes is like a distracted man and other times speakes verry rationable.
1708 G. Adams Hard Meas. iii. 17 Upon a fair Account by Rationable Men, the unreasonable Damages awarded by Perjury, and a partial Jury, would be found overpayed.
1715 Gentleman's Libr. 165 Consider that Instinct with which Providence has endow'd the Ant, and by which is exhibited an Example of Industry to rationable Creatures.
1758 T. Foubert Litterary Cards viii. sig. G/1 For certain Musick is an admirable Art, for all rationable Persons admire and are delighted to hear a Vocal and Instrumental Concert, that ravishes the Soul by the Organ of the Ears.
1801 M. Edgeworth Belinda III. xxvi. 106 I won't tell you all the argufyings I held on this point with her, but all to no purpose; she was, I take it, on this matter not quite rationable, and it was but good natured to humour her.
1852 T. J. Vaiden Rational Relig. & Morals 924 A state-faith can never be a rational religion, suitable for rationable beings.
1907 Daily Gaz. & Bull. (Williamsport, Pa.) 27 Nov. 1/1 Mrs. Bradley, during their years of acquaintance with her appeared at all times affable and rationable.
1987 Associated Press (Nexis) 16 Oct. This is not a surrender, it's a cease-fire while we proceed in another direction... We believe they refused to be rationable or reasonable.
1996 Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald Jrnl. 16 May d14/7 (advt.) Seeks rationable female companion able and willing to enjoy life's many activities..and pleasures.
Derivatives
rationably adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > mental health > [adverb]
of (also in) good (also perfect, safe, sane, sound, whole) memory1402
rationablya1540
rationally1610
rational1662
sanely1803
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adverb]
with reasonc1300
skilfullyc1325
skillwiselya1340
skilfula1400
reasonablyc1400
of reason1405
in reasona1450
upon reasonc1450
reasonfully1532
justlya1538
rationablya1540
reasonally1567
reasonable1573
as soon (as)1579
rationally1610
to reason1613
rational1662
correctlya1704
rightly1703
upon the weight of1710
legitimately1794
well-foundedly?1841
tarblish1842
sanely1884
a1540 (c1460) G. Hay tr. Bk. King Alexander 17752 The king saw him ansure sa racionably.
1581 Perth Guildry in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue (198 ) 93/2 Sikis daywerkis beand askit & nocht gottin, it salbe sene & concederit rationabillie be the discrectioun of the provest baillies consale & auditouris of compt.
1647 J. Lilburne Ionahs Cry 4 I professe I would doe it, if I were rationably able to doe it to morrow.
1679 J. Smith Narr. Popish-plot 10 As they might very rationably believe.
1715 D. Defoe View Scots Rebellion 29 If the Earl of Mar..should spirit up 10 or 12000 Highland Men tumultously to herd together and take Arms, it is as much as can rationably be expected.
a1768 T. Secker Serm. Several Subj. (1770) II. v. 105 Though every one of these Things is rationably supposeable, yet Scripture only can satisfy us, that they are true in Fact.
1883 Weekly Nevada State Jrnl. 25 Aug. 1/1 The amusement chosen should be rationably agreeable. If the tourist is a skillful hunter or fisherman there is real enjoyment in the rod or the gun.
1990 T. M. Franck Power of Legitimacy among Nations x. 171 It makes distinctions on the basis of principles of general applicability which are rationably connected to the purpose the right seeks to advance.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
rationableadj.2
/ˈraʃ(ə)nəbl/, /ˈraʃn̩əbl/, U.S. /ˈræʃ(ə)nəb(ə)l/, /ˈreɪʃ(ə)nəb(ə)l/ Able to be rationed; capable of being rationed.
ΚΠ
1942 Rev. Econ. Statistics 24 52/1 The whole scheme of control may be undermined if a large part of the rationable supply of meat, butter, or eggs is sold on a ‘black’ market.
1958 Q. Jrnl. Econ. 72 359 Apple blossoms (or the nectar therein) are exhaustible, rationable ‘private’ goods.
2002 Sunday Star-Times (Auckland) (Nexis) 29 Dec. Sport section) 2 Not that you can blame the selectors as form has been a rationable commodity for the batsmen.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1c1475adj.21942