| 释义 |
reasonn.1 Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French raisun, raison. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman raisun, raisoun, raisoune, reisun, reisoun, reason, reasoun, resone, resun, resoun, Anglo-Norman and Old French reson, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French raison, etc. (French raison ) word, language, narrative (late 10th cent. in Old French), that which is right, just, fitting, fair (late 10th cent. in de raizon quite rightly), composition (early 12th cent. or earlier), account or explanation (of something) (early 12th cent.), cause, grounds, motive for an action (c1112), way, manner, method (1119), that which is due to a person (1135), (in plural) dues (mid 12th cent. or earlier), good sense, soundness of mind (c1170), rational faculty, intellect (c1170), account (c1200), speech, discourse (13th cent. or earlier), act of reasoning (13th cent. or earlier), argument, evidence offered to justify something (early 13th cent.), (in legal use) case, cause (13th cent. or earlier), sense, meaning (13th cent. or earlier), proverb, saying (13th cent. or earlier), sentence (early 14th cent. or earlier), motto (14th cent. or earlier), question (14th cent. or earlier) < classical Latin ratiōn- , ratiō ratio n. Compare Old Occitan razon (mid 11th cent.), Catalan raó (12th cent.), Spanish razón (1207), Portuguese razão (13th cent.), Italian ragione (mid 13th cent.). Compare ration n. Compare also raison d'état n., raison d'être n. †I. An account, statement, or remark, and related senses. 1. a. An account rendered (in various senses). In early use chiefly without article. the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > explain [verb (intransitive)] > give account of c1225 (?c1200) (Bodl.) (1981) 810 Hwet const tu to þeos men þet tu þus leadest?.. Ich am her..to ȝelde reisun [c1225 Royal reaisun] for ham. ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 66 Of þulli speche..schal uch word beon irikened. & iȝeuen reisun [a1400 Pepys ȝelde rekenynge] hwi þe an hit seide. & te oðer hit lustede. c1300 St. John Evangelist (Laud) 432 in C. Horstmann (1887) 415 (MED) Abid me nouþe, and ichulle for þe ore louerd resun ȝelde. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xii. 36 Of euery ydel word that men speken, thei shul ȝelde resoun [L. reddent rationem] therof in the day of dome. a1425 (Lansd.) (1902) 42 (MED) Þe abbes..salle vmbeþinke hir what charge sho hase recaiuid, And þat sho sal yelde resun of alle. c1475 (1969) 173 (MED) For euery ydyll worde we must ȝelde a reson. 1558–9 in C. Innes (1845) I. lxiii And to gif reson of thair fayth and belief. 1590 T. Nashe (title) First Parte of Pasquils Apologie wherein he renders a Reason of his long Silence and gallops the Fielde with the Treatise of Reformation written by John Penrie. 1661 R. Boyle Hist. Fluidity & Firmnesse ii, in 202 That would not be to render a Reason of the thing propos'd, but in effect to decline rendring any. 1766 f. A1v It is easier for a Man to quarrel or find fault with any thing than render a Reason of such quarrel-picking. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian ix, in 2nd Ser. III. 229 Ye have an undoubted right to ask your ain son to render a reason of his conduct. the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > question, interrogate [verb (transitive)] > call to account a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 26694 (MED) Adam..and eue..quen þai war to resun don..He said þar-till his wijf him ledde. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 5791 (MED) It semes þat þe kyng had grete encheson To sette hym for þat kepyng to reson. 1425 IV. 296/2 Iche of hem shall..assiste by wey of Counsell..to putte ye said parties to reson. 1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry (1971) xlvii. 69 God dyde putt her to reason, askyng to her, why she had trespaced his commaundement. 1560 H. Cole Let. in J. Jewel & H. Cole sig. B.iiiv By lawe vpon good groundes no manne should be put to reason where matters are once agreed on. a1654 J. Selden (?1689) ii. 67 Thereupon the said John was put to reason before the Lords. society > trade and finance > money > [noun] society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > [noun] a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Lev. xxv. 52 He shal leyȝe resoun [a1425 L.V. schal sette rikenyng, L. ponet rationem] wiþ hym after þe noumbre of ȝerys. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Macc. x. 40 I shal ȝeue in eche ȝeris fiftene thousandis of siclis of syluer, of the kyngis reysons [L. rationibus], that perteynen to me. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xviii. 23 The kingdom of heuenes is lickened to a man kyng that wolde putte resoun [a1425 L.V. rekyn; L. rationem ponere] with his seruauntis. 1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus 40 Nowe as the time requireth of the day assygned or appoynted to my sonne, I wyll trymme al my reasons to counters. 2. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > argument, source of conviction > [noun] c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 85 Hereð nu reisuns [?c1225 Cleo. resuns] hwi me ah to fleo þe world. c1300 St. Katherine (Harl.) 31 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill (1956) 534 (MED) Mid oþer reisouns of clergie þat maide preouede also Þat here godes noþing nere. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds xxii. 1 Men, bretheren and fadris, heere ȝe what resoun [L. rationem] I ȝelde now to ȝou. c1400 (a1376) W. Langland (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. xi. 41 (MED) Þanne telle þei of þe trinite how two slowe þe þridde, And bringe forþ a ballid resoun. ?c1450 tr. (1906) 122 (MED) She shewed so mani good resounes [Fr. raysons] vnto the kinge her husbonde, that he forgaue Absolon all his wrathe. c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. (Takamiya) (1977) 133 (MED) He schal turne hys speche to þe preysyng of þe pepyl..inducyng hem be..resunnys..to loue þe kynge. 1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy v. xxv It is said camillus movit þe Romanis fra migration to veos be mony ressonis. 1563 J. Foxe 1369/2 Cirillus..prouing to the Jewes that Christ was come, vseth this reason. 1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio 15 Strengthning their reasons with many examples. 1638 R. Baillie 22 July (1841) I. 90 Ye have here also some Reasons against the Service in print. 1645 J. Winthrop 6 Mr. Williams..wrote to the Commissioners assuring them..that by strong reasons & arguments he could convince any man therof, that was of another minde. 1810 G. Crabbe xxi. 293 They prov'd (so thought I then) with Reasons strong, That no Man's Feelings ever lead him wrong. the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical syllogism > [noun] > premise(s) > minor premise 1826 R. Whately i. §2 A premiss placed after its conclusion is called the Reason of it, and is introduced by one of those conjunctions which are called causal. a1856 W. Hamilton (1860) III. v. 85 Where there is no reason, there can be no consequent. 1864 F. C. Bowen vii. 211 To deny the Consequent is also to deny the Reason. 1896 J. Welton (ed. 2) II. iv. i. 277 When the conclusion is put forward..it was called by the old logicians the Question, and the propositions which establish it, and which are then introduced by ‘because’, or some other causal conjunction, were termed the Reason. 3. the mind > language > speech > [noun] > that which is or can be spoken the mind > language > speech > conversation > [noun] the mind > language > statement > [noun] > a statement or declaration > comment or remark the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > meaning > explanation, exposition > [noun] > an explanation, exposition, account the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > an answer, response c1300 (c1250) (Cambr.) (1966) l. 248 Þe porter is culuart & felun; He wule him sette a reisun. c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) l. 3779 When þemperour had seyd his resoun [c1475 Caius reeson]..noiþer kniȝt no baroun..answerd þo. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 1632 (MED) Drightin of heuen spak til him þan, And þus his resun he began. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. vi. l. 4114 I se now þat þou art..wery wiþ lengþe of my resoun. 1481 W. Caxton tr. ii. xxix. 122 Of the wyndes may men enquyre reson of them that vse the sees. a1500 (?c1450) 500 (MED) Than sat down the kynge..and hervy be-gan his reson [Fr. raison]. c1580 ( tr. (1925) I. i. 2134 Be he haue shewit his ressoun [Fr. tel parole] The king..Sall of thir tydingis sory be. 1598 W. Shakespeare v. i. 2 Your reasons at Dinner haue been sharpe & sententious. View more context for this quotation a1635 (1641) sig. E3 The Queene..began to be taken with his election, and loved to heare his reasons to her demands. the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > [noun] c1390 (?c1350) (1871) l. 76 (MED) Þat tyme þat Augustus Cesar was Emperour of Rome, þis reson bi-gon þat I schal now rikenen..god sende an Angel in-to Galile. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 219 (MED) Þe last resun of alle þis ron Sal be of hir concepcion. a1400 (a1325) (Gött.) 5456 Mani resunes he þaim tald, Bath þat þai suld ouer bide, And in þair last dais bitide. 4. society > communication > writing > written text > an inscription > [noun] > motto or legend a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 77 (MED) Þe heed lettres..of þis firste book..speleþ þis Latyn resoun: Presentem cronicam compilauit frater Ranulphus Cestrensis monachus. Þis Latyn resoun is to menynge an Englische, [etc.]. 1434 in H. Nicolas (1835) IV. 251 Upon þe same coler are viij corones of gold, ech of hem enameled wyth a resan of ‘une sanz pluis’. 1463 in S. Tymms (1850) 18 (MED) The wiche messe..I wille the Seynt Marie preest kepe in a whith vestement wiche is redy made..bought and payd fore, with a remembraunce of my armys and my reson therto. a1500 (Gloucester) (1971) 783 (MED) In euery stone He dyd wrytte þis Reson [v.rr. this reason; thes wordes]: wher not hope stedfast, herth oftesythe schulde breste. 1548 f. lxxx Gounes..enbrodred with reasons of golde that sayd, adieu Iunesse, farewell youth. 1589 in J. Cooper (1892) II. 390 For paintin of sum ressons on the vall of the north yll in the kirk. 1631 Edinb. Test. LV. f. 20v, in at Reso(u)n Ane wovin purs with ane lytill gold ring conteining ane reassoun. the mind > language > linguistics > study of grammar > syntax or word order > syntactic unit or constituent > [noun] > sentence a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 12 If the nominatif case & þe verbe discordiþ in persone & in noumbre, þanne þe resoun is incongrue as in þis manere: puer sumus bonus. c1414 in D. Thomson (1984) 105 (MED) Qwat shal þu do, if þu haue mone verbes in a reson, to knowe þi principal verbe? a1450 (a1397) Prol. Old Test. in (Cambr. Mm.2.15) (1850) xv. 57 Whanne oo word is oonis set in a reesoun, it mai be set forth as ofte as it is vndurstonden. c1475 (Trin. Cambr.) (1927) 1823 (MED) Ortography..Etymology..and Prosody..serued that Science [sc. Grammar]..In wrytyng, pronowsyng and construying Of letter, sillable, worde, reason. 1530 (Fawkes) (1873) 2nd Prol. 7 There is also many wordes that haue dyverse vnderstondynges..and som tyme they may be taken in dyuerse wyse in one reson or clause. 1530 J. Palsgrave Introd. 24 Of these letters, lyke as it is in all tonges, be made syllables, of syllables wordes, of wordes sentences or reasons. II. The intellectual power, the capacity for rational thought, and related senses. Cf. rationality n. 5. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [noun] ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 199 Lo hu maseliche he dude, Sette awimmon to ȝeteward þet is feble warde... Wimmon is þe reisun þet is wittes schile hwen hit unstrengeð þe schulde beo monlich. ?c1335 in W. Heuser (1904) 107 (MED) Skil, resun, and ek miȝt He ȝef Adam in his mode. c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham (1902) 19 (MED) Þat alle þyng his ase he seiþ Þy resoun wole þe rede. c1400 (a1376) W. Langland (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. i. 52 (MED) For riȝtfulliche resoun shulde rewele ȝow alle. a1413 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Pierpont Morgan) (1882) iv. l. 164 Resoun seyde hym on þat oþer syde, with-oute assent of here do not so. c1475 (c1445) R. Pecock (1921) 12 (MED) Þis same..power of oure soule whiche is now clepid resoun is also ful ofte clepid vndirstonding, so þat resoun and vndirstonding is al oon. a1538 T. Starkey (1989) 3 Seyng the perfectyon of man restyth in the mynd & in the chefe & puryst parte therof, wych ys reson & intellygence. 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. ii. 115 The will of man is by his reason swai'd: And reason saies you are the worthier maide. View more context for this quotation c1665 L. Hutchinson (1973) To Children 7 In matters of faith his reason allwayes submitted to the word of God. 1693 J. Dryden tr. Persius v. 65 Reason still is whisp'ring in your Ear, Where you are sure to fail, th'Attempt forbear. 1785 T. Reid 530 It is absurd to conceive that there can be any opposition between reason and common sense. 1800 T. Jefferson Let. 31 Jan. in (1984) 1077 The craft would be endangered by the spreading of information, reason, & natural morality among men. 1859 C. Dickens i. ii. 3 Some brute animals are endued with Reason. 1871 C. Darwin I. ii. 46 Of all the faculties of the human mind, it will, I presume, be admitted that Reason stands at the summit. 1933 Ld. Raglan i. 6 Having eliminated reason, instinct, and religion as bases of the incest taboo, what have we left? The answer is magic. 1983 S. Cooper xiv. 128 Pride and reason jostled one another in Cally's mind. 2002 R. Webber ii. v. 90 They demythologized the Bible to find a universal truth that could be affirmed by reason. 1692 tr. Clement of Alexandria in J. Dunton 375 The Son is called Reason [Gk. λόγος], as well as the Paternal Reason, but it was not that which was made Flesh; and yet it is not Paternal Reason neither, but Divine Power, (which is as an Emanation of this same Reason) which is become Spirit. 1701 tr. J. Le Clerc 87 Cerinthus,..held the Preexistence of the Reason, which he call'd the christ. 1701 tr. J. Le Clerc 47 The Son is called Reason, as well as the Paternal Reason. 1841 XIX. 323/2 Schelling defines reason to be the identity of the subjective and the objective... God and reason are essentially of the same nature; they are identical. 1841 R. W. Emerson Thoughts on Art in Jan. 374 There is but one Reason. The mind that made the world is not one mind, but the mind. 1874 H. Sidgwick iii. xiii. 362 This absolute end..can be nothing but Reason itself, or the Universe of Rationals. 1976 J. B. Adamson i. 99 The Word/Gospel/Law..includes all the meaning and power, the reason and life, that the NT constantly identifies with Word/Gospel/Law. the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > absolute idealism > [noun] > transcendentalism > elements of Kant's transcendental philosophy 1795 J. A. O'Keefe 47 Dr. Kant himself explains the difference between pure and empirical reason in these terms [etc.]. 1809–10 S. T. Coleridge (1850) I. 240 (note) By the pure ‘reason’ I mean the power by which we become possessed of principles. 1827 T. Carlyle State German Lit. in (1840) I. 102 Reason, the Kantists say, is of a higher nature than Understanding; it works by more subtle methods, on higher objects. 1838 F. Haywood tr. I. Kant Introd. vii. 20 Reason is the faculty which furnishes the principles of cognition à priori. 1884 9 275 The necessity of à priori synthesis to knowledge, and the necessity of his system of Pure Reason to à priori synthesis, are the principles upon which he [sc. Kant] proceeds. 1922 J. Ward 14 At length λόγος came metonymically to mean that pure reason which Kant was essaying to criticise as the basis of experience. 1983 H. Atkins tr. K. S. Guthke (1990) v. 332 Whewell, a Kantian idealist, had written to the empiricist Herschel that one must, and could, pursue science only in such a way as to confirm the a priori truths of reason. 2003 61 220/1 Herder dismisses Kant's ideas of reason in empiricist tones and for empiricist reasons—as ‘nonexistent’ fictions produced by an overheated philosophical imagination. 6. The fact or quality of being in accordance with reason; that view of things or manner of proceeding which seems wise, logical, or correct. See also Phrases 2. voice of reason: see voice n. Phrases 4.the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [noun] > basis in reason > matter having c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 92 Mare beoð þe gode þe beoð iclumben hehe itemptet þen þe wake, ant þet is reisun [?c1225 Cleo. þerto is reisun], for se þe hul is herre, se þe wind is mare þron. a1325 (c1280) (Pepys 2344) (1927) 1345 (MED) Hit is resoun At þis heye ffeste of Ester to deliuery a prisoun. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) 7211 (MED) Me þenkeþ weyl hyt ys resun To calle swych a man glotoun. 1423 IV. 257/2 Hit is no reson that the Maister take his worshiþ of another mannes harme. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 6891 (MED) It es reson and ryght Þat þai ay se þat grysely syght. 1454 V. 248/1 We..ordeyne..that the seid Robert..paye the sommes..as it can be thought reason unto our Tresorer of Englond. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll.) 273 To yelde us unto hym hit were no reson. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. 348 It is reason that it shulde so be. a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara (1537) sig. Ddvi Reason is, that I succour thy povertee with moneie. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach i. f. 25v It is good reason to sowe timely in wette groundes. 1625 F. Bacon (new ed.) 36 It were great Reason, that those that haue Children, should haue greatest care of future times. 1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer i. 129 I thought it reason th' Argives should collect. 1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 100 in It was not reason to punish the innocent with the Guilty. 1725 M. Davys Familiar Lett. in II. 267 Since you have refus'd what I would so honourably have given you, it is but reason I send back part of what you have forc'd upon me. 1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage II. vi. ii. 441 It is but reason that you should distrust our purity. 1818 T. L. Peacock iv. 41 ‘Do you know, sir, that Marionetta has no fortune?’ ‘It is the more reason, sir, that her husband should have one.’ 1864 Manning 28 It is, however, but reason that I should rejoice. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [noun] > quality of being reasonable a1325 (c1280) (Pepys 2344) (1927) l. 1940 (MED) What manere is þis? y ne kan no resoun her-on yseo. c1390 (?c1350) (1871) l. 138 (MED) Þe lengore I here, þe lesse reson I seo in þat þat þou rikenest. c1480 (a1400) St. Justina 130 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) II. 155 To na resone haffand ey. 1508 (Chepman & Myllar) sig. b Ressane him reuerendly as resoun in lyis. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. ii. 325 Wee haue consented to all tearmes of reason . View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. ii. 109 Me thinkes there is much reason in his sayings. View more context for this quotation 1653 I. Walton ii. 47 This is reason put into Verse, and worthy the consideration of a wise man. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton ix. 738 His perswasive words, impregn'd With Reason, to her seeming, and with Truth. View more context for this quotation 1732 G. Berkeley I. ii. iv. 78 There is reason in what you say. 1819 P. B. Shelley ii. ii. 29 Nay, there is reason in your plea; 'twere hard. 1880 T. Hardy iii. 32 There was reason in Mrs. Downe's fear—that he owned. 1901 26 Jan. 237/1 There could be reason in such a line of argument if it could be shown that [etc.]. 1991 J. Elisonas in J. W. Hall IV. vii. 350 The daimyo of Bungo may..have been afraid that any further encouragement of the Christian religion would exacerbate the deep cleavages that divided his realm... If so, then there was reason in his recalcitrance. c1390 (Vernon) (1967) l. 1096 ‘Þat is skile’, quaþ Jhesu, ‘and good reson’. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 847 Telle he moste his tale as was resoun. a1450 (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 1526 His doghtre Clarionas She kept the chambre, as Reason was. 1535 Baruch ii. B We with oure fathers (as reason is) are brought to open shame. 1596 T. Danett tr. P. de Commynes vi. iv. 217 To which his commandement I obeied as reason was. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta i. xxii. 74 If we shall give that respect to the authoritie of Plato (as it is reason), we must [etc.]. 1671 J. Milton 1641 What your commands impos'd I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying. View more context for this quotation the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adverb] > with reason a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara (1537) xxi. f. 37 Her deathe was gretly bewayled in Rome, for she was in Rome most derely beloued, and good reason. 1563 J. Man tr. W. Musculus 279 They do sufficiently confesse..that the sacrament is not the very grace itselfe, and reason. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. ii. 160 Wee'l haue the Lord Sayes head... Cade. And good reason . View more context for this quotation 1657 W. Rand tr. P. Gassendi i. 75 He wrote most frequently (and good reason) to his Father and Uncle. 1671 J. Milton iii. 122 To whom our Saviour fervently reply'd. And reason; since his word all things produc'd. View more context for this quotation 1714 D. Manley 60 Lord Crafty, as Reason good, immediately assumed the Management of his Lady's Affairs. 1757 R. Griffith & E. Griffith I. lxxxiii. 144 True Love..never attacks us but once; and Reason good, because it lasts us for Life. †7. Chiefly in to do (a person) reason [originally after Anglo-Norman and Middle French faire raison to do what is right (to), to treat (a person) as he or she deserves (late 12th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman)] . society > armed hostility > armed encounter > [noun] > single combat or duel > satisfaction by society > morality > dueness or propriety > [noun] > right or moral entitlement > one's due > treatment 1384 Proclam. Sir Nicholas Brembre in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt (1931) 33 (MED) Yef eny man fynt hym y-greued..come and pleyne hym to the Mair and aldermen, and he shal haue right and resoun. ?a1425 (Egerton) (1889) 141 (MED) In þat ile also er wonder rightwise iuggez, for þai do resoun and trewth to ilke man, als wele to pouer as to riche. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll.) 189 I complayned me to the Potestate the Pope hymself, but I had nothynge ellys but plesaunte wordys; other reson at Roome myght I none have. 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre (1913) 72 b To holde them in pees reson and justice. c1515 Ld. Berners tr. (1882–7) x. 30 I shal do hym reason yf it be founde that I haue done any wronge. 1594 W. Shakespeare i. i. 279 I..resolude withall, To doo my selfe this reason and this right. View more context for this quotation 1619 in R. F. Williams (1849) (modernized text) II. 120 Sir Edward Villiers told him himself was the man. ‘I hope’, said the other, ‘you will do me reason’. Thereupon a challenge was made and accepted. 1638 R. Baillie 22 July (1841) I. 94 If they gett reason, it is thought they are both undone. 1651 tr. F. de Quintana 301 The more I endeavoured by faire meanes to oblige him to doe me reason, the more I excited him to derision. 1699 T. D'Urfey (1700) ii. iv. iii. 40 The breach about the Blow, the Villain lately gave me is suppos'd reconcil'd, which if I e're forgive, may this right hand refuse to do me reason. the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > [noun] > amount of drink > satisfactory amount 1594 H. Plat 62 Quaffing companions..wil require reason at their hands as they terme it. 1669 J. Dryden i. i. 13 First I'll drink to you Sir; upon my faith I'll do you reason Sir. 1698 J. Fryer 279 After..every one's Health has reason done it, they take off the Table-Cloth. 1819 W. Scott III. xii. 309 I pray you..to do me reason in a cup of wine. 1826 W. Scott II. vii. 177 Nor was his follower slow in doing reason to the royal pledge. 1625 T. Middleton iv. sig. H v Pish, then you're man and wife, All but Church Ceremonies: Pray let's see it done first, She shall do reason then. 1665 C. Cotton 37 In that very place and season, 'Tis thought Æneas did her reason. 1681 A. Behn ii. i. 17 Wouldst thou be so wicked to refuse a little consolation to my Body?.. I see thou art frank and good natur'd, and wilt do reason gratis. 1708 324 A Season, When Mars has forgotten to do Venus Reason!.. I'd certainly make it a Law..That Killers of Men, to replenish the Store, Be bound to the Wedlock, and made to get more. 8. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > make reasonable [verb (transitive)] society > communication > information > enlightenment > enlighten [verb (transitive)] > undeceive a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 12759 (MED) Men soght til him..To here of his sermon þat maniman broght to resun [Gött. resune]. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart II. ccii. 621 The kyng..commaunded me..to gouerne and bringe them to reason. 1548 f. clv Whiche thynges if he deny to dooe, then the confederates certifie hym, that thei shall neuer cease till he be brought to reason. 1602 tr. G. Corrozet 2 They guarded him from the power of the Emperour: who in the end being brought to reason and reconciled vnto him, came to doe him reuerence. 1700 W. Penn Let. 2 June in (1986) III. 602 Thou might easily take a Course..to make them more observant and bring the Refractary to reason. 1702 I. iv. 326 He would sit still, till they, who were over active, would come to reason. 1774 J. Reynolds (1876) vi. 384 To bring us entirely to reason and sobriety, let it be observed [etc.]. 1848 A. Brontë I. xviii. 323 A little conciliation and steady perseverance on his part might yet succeed in bringing me to reason. 1870 J. H. Burton VI. lxvi. 332 They had failed to bring a recusant clergyman to reason. 1914 E. von Arnim xxiii. 297 He would bring her then and there by the shortest possible route to reason. 1989 J. Gillingham (ed. 2) 55 How else was their lord to be brought to reason or to arbitration except by ensuring that he could not collect his rents? the world > health and disease > mental health > [noun] c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 1125 Sire what eyleth yow Haue pacience and reson in youre mynde. c1440 (?a1400) 3825 (MED) His reson was passede; He fell in a fransye for fersenesse of herte. c1470 tr. (Cleveland) (1977) 70 (MED) Oure Lord did many miracles for the honoure of him, for þe defe he made to here, the dombe to speke, and refourmid the distrait men to good mynde and reson. 1572 (a1500) (1882) 380 I spak not out of ressoun, the suth gif I sall say. 1604 W. Shakespeare ii. ii. 212 A happines that often madnesse hits on, which reason and sanctity could not so prosperously be deliuered of. View more context for this quotation 1611 Dan. iv. 36 At the same time my reason returned vnto me. View more context for this quotation 1765 W. Blackstone I. xiv. 351 A fourth incapacity is want of reason. 1817 P. B. Shelley vii. xxv. 168 So now my reason was restored to me. 1863 25 July 2295 We are fully convinced that any attempt to show Hamlet's reason to be shaken is utterly hopeless. a1902 S. Butler (1903) lxiv. 286 He hovered for the next two months between life and death, never in full possession of his reason and often delirious. 1985 N. Sahgal viii. 87 The demented disjointed chorus made her feel it was she who was losing her reason. 2004 R. Kurson ii. 38 He dials down his fear..until his breathing slows and his narcosis lightens and his reason returns. †9. the world > relative properties > quantity > moderateness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > a moderate quantity, amount, or degree the world > relative properties > measurement > measuring instrument > [noun] > for measuring volume > measuring vessels > vessel of standard capacity > bowl for measuring grain or corn c1450 tr. G. Deguileville (Cambr.) (1869) 144 (MED) Of this hand ben nouht exempt folk that gon and stelen bi nihte Ne false forsteres that ben assentinge to swiche dedes..Millewardes also that filleth here resoun. a1475 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville (Vitell.) 10614 (MED) As touchyng off the melle, Thow myghtest ther..Seen & be-holden A mesure Wych..Bereth the name off Resoun. 1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in 887 In case his paines were recompenst with reason. 1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus vi. vi. 130 Agrippina not contented with reason, and greedy of rule. 1600 W. Shakespeare v. iv. 74 Bene. Do not you loue me? Beat. Why no, no more then reason . View more context for this quotation 1675 Earl of Essex (1770) 15 I have not yet heard precisely what terms mr. Thinne stands upon, but in case he will take reason..it would be a great convenience to me to be provided of a dwelling in town. the world > relative properties > quantity > moderateness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] 1614 S. Latham ii. vi. 93 When shee hath cast them againe, giue her her breakefast of good meat, with reason in the quantity. III. A cause, ground, or motive. the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun] > reason or ground a1250 (?a1200) (Nero) (1952) 34 Þis is nu þe reisun of ðe veiunge, hwi isaie ueieð hope & silence. c1300 St. Lucy (Laud) 115 in C. Horstmann (1887) 104 Ȝwat resun mai þis beo þat a þousend ne mouwen nouȝt þis womman of þe stude enes teo? c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 9304 (MED) An oþer reson wel ver meueþ more me þer to, Þat þe king..Mid vnriȝt halt þis kinedom. c1400 (?c1380) l. 191 (MED) He hentes hym..And broȝt hym vp by þe brest and vpon borde sette, Arayned hym ful runyschly, what raysoun he hade In such slaȝtes of sorȝe to slepe so faste. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. v. l. 3777 I desire eke to witen of þe what semeþ þe to be þe resoun of þis so wrongful a confusioun. a1500 (Harl. 149) (1974) 79 (MED) Ye crucyfyed Jhesu wyth-oute cause and resoun. 1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy iii. xxxv He couth fynd na resson quhy he aucht nocht to helpe þe romane pepill to recovir þe land. 1598 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 702 Brag. Sweete bloodes, I both may and will [deny]. Bero. What reason haue you fort. View more context for this quotation 1633 Bp. J. Hall i. 560 Is there any reason in you..why I should respect you more than the very Ethiopians? 1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius 202 The Ambassador Brugman would by no means accept of the horse, for no other reason, doubtlesse, than this, that his was not so good as his Collegue's. 1711 J. Addison No. 101. ¶7 He made a Voyage to Grand Cairo for no other Reason but to take the Measure of a Pyramid. 1763 C. Jones (1778) 181 For the same Reason avoid hitting any Blots which your Adversary makes. 1843 J. S. Mill I. i. iii. §7 Should we not have as much reason to believe that it still existed as we now have. 1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato (ed. 2) V. 7 There is no reason..to imagine that this melancholy tone is attributable to disappointment. 1895 C. M. Yonge xxx. 321 An expedition had been arranged..but this must needs be deferred, and there was no doubt that the ‘reason why’ would be sought out. 1901 R. Kipling xiv. 380 Kissing is practically unknown among Asiatics, which may have been the reason that she leaned back with wide-open eyes and a face of panic. 1957 L. Durrell ii. 92 We are all hunting for rational reasons for believing in the absurd. 2000 21 Sept. 39/4 The massacres were presented..as another reason why he can't sit across the negotiating table from General Musharraf. 11. A cause of something, esp. one adduced as an explanation. sufficient reason: see sufficient adj. 2c.the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 139 Þis resoun þat Isidir makeþ of þe cause of þondir acordiþ somdele wiþ þe philosophir þat saiþ þat þundir is a spirit of wyndes. ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iv. pr. vi. l. 3825 Þou hast..byhyȝt me to vnwrappen þe hidde causes..and to discoueren me þe resouns couered with dirknesses. 1484 W. Caxton tr. v. xii The wulf on a daye came to the dogge and demaunded of hym the rayson why he was soo lene. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton (BL Add.) (1975) 1518 (MED) When colde worchith in mater thik & drye, Blak colour shal be, this is the reson why: Such mater is compactid & more thykke. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. iii. 30 When these Prodigies Doe so conioyntly meet, let not men say, These are their Reasons, they are Naturall. View more context for this quotation 1656 tr. T. Hobbes iv. xxviii. 359 I should think Comets were made in the same manner... For I could very well from hence give a reason both of their Haire, and of their motions. 1690 J. Locke iii. vi. 212 We know not their Make; and can give no Reason, of the different Qualities we find in them. 1709 G. Berkeley §68. 74 To explicate the reason, of the Moon's appearing greater than ordinary in the Horizon. 1826 R. Whately App. Ambig. Terms 297 The 'Reason of an eclipse of the sun is, that the moon is interposed between it and the earth'. This should strictly be called the cause. 1879 J. Lubbock ii. 67 There is not a hair or a line, not a spot or a color, for which there is not a reason. 1937 A. J. Cronin i. viii. 68 There must be a reason, Manson thought doggedly, symptoms don't just happen of themselves. 1986 23 Oct. 673/2 Inflationary cosmology provides a physical reason for why Ω should have been so precisely tuned to the value of unity. 2001 K. Ives in R. Catlow & S. Greenfield 43 The reason was that slow sand filters remove more than 99 per cent of the intestinal bacteria from the water. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 551 (MED) For þis resun þat ȝee haue hard, Man is clepid þe lesse werld. Bot resun yett al herd ȝee noght Quare of mans saul was wroght. ?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Paris) (1971) 95 (MED) The resoun of þe forsaide þinges is for þat no laxatyf medecyne schulde be medled wiþ þe mete. c1475 (Folger) (1969) 2 (MED) Yff ȝe wyll wet þe propyrte Ande þe resun of my nayme imperyall, I am clepyde of hem þat in erthe be Euerlastynge Wysdom. a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 544 in W. A. Craigie (1925) II. 111 Throw yir ressonis ald The bludy hart It Is cald. 1597 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 15 Now doe ye know the reason of this hast. View more context for this quotation 1659 J. Pearson ix. 697 This reason did the ancient Fathers render why the Church was called Catholick. 1700 J. Asgill 9 Custom it self, without a reason for it, is an argument only to fools. 1797 XI. 477/1 This holds equally in metaphor and allegory; and the reason is the same in all. 1841 E. W. Lane tr. I. 105 Respecting this palace, and the reason of thy being alone in it. 1858 Jan. 185/2 May not this amiable superstition in some way explain the reason of the faith in a child's caul? 1915 J. Turner Let. July in C. Warren (2019) 16 You see, things happen—and happen very quickly out here. No reasons given. 1936 M. Mitchell Let. 3 Sept. in (1986) 60 My eyes were so bad..I could barely see. That was the reason for my unmannerly desire to get the contract closed up immediately. 1993 G. F. Newman (rev. ed.) 46 There was excitement in DC Fenton's voice. The reason was the shooter he had found. the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [noun] > fundamental reason or logical basis a1425 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (Pierpont Morgan) f. 327 No diuersite is bytwene oþer bestes & men þat knoweþ nouȝt þe reson of calculynge & of acountes. ?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Paris) (1971) 6 (MED) It is noght so nedefull to serche þe cause as þe resoun of hem, wiþoute þe whiche þinges it is nouȝt ihad as to haste. 1585 R. Greene ii. f. 2 The Egiptians..found out the reason of Diuination, increasing the Science greatly. 1607 E. Topsell 230 The reason of the Latine word Hircus, is deriued of Hirtus (signifying rough). 1678 J. Moxon 4 Geometry, and the Projecting of the Sphere..are only useful to those that would know the reason of Dyalling. 1678 T. Gale 7 The formal reason or nature of Sin consists in its being a deordination or transgression of the Divine law. 1705 S. Clarke 12 Hearing the Reason of the Case with Patience. 1715 D. Defoe 32 The Reason of the Case is known, For those we can Out-vote we ne're Knock down. 1582 R. Parsons 27 Yet there is reason to think, that they knew what they did as well as he. 1598 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 28 You care not for me. Ros. Great reason: for past care, is still past cure. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. i. 153 There's reason he should be displeas'd at it. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton viii. 443 Whose fellowship..Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike. View more context for this quotation 1671 J. Milton iv. 523 Good reason then, if I [etc.] . View more context for this quotation 1788 T. Reid i. § i. 5 There is reason to doubt whether what [works] are his be not much vitiated and interpolated. 1849 C. Brontë II. vii. 175 I have rather a leaning to the agricultural interest, too; as good reason is..a larger share comes from the landed estate around it. 1892 93 414/2 If the defendant was let out of prison before these things were done, there was reason to believe that they would never be done at all. 1936 S. Glasstone iv. 164 There is good reason to believe that the deuterium bond..is definitely stronger than the latter. 1958 W. Willetts I. iv. 227 There is reason to suppose that Chinese monochrome silks of the Hain period were not de-gummed. 2005 16 Aug. (Central ed.) d1/2 There's good reason to take a closer look at so-called never-smokers with lung cancer. †IV. The act or result of reasoning, and related senses. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > [noun] c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 2023 (MED) Bi resoun þou schalt se Þat loue is hem bitvene. a1375 (c1350) (1867) 1692 (MED) No better red be resun i ne knowe, þan to swiche a bold beste best to be disgised. a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 8 (MED) A surgian..muste studie in alle þe parties of philofie & in logik..in arte, þat techiþ him to proue his proporciouns wiþ good resoun. 1415 T. Hoccleve Addr. to Sir John Oldcastle l. 141 in (1970) i. 13 For if we mighte our feith by reson preeue, We sholde no meryt of our feith haue. c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 38 A good knyght scholde not holde him content with a lewde iugement not grounded on reson. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton (BL Add.) (1975) 1754 (MED) The principal agent to know at euery seson Requirith grete serch made bi subtile reson. 1552 R. Record (rev. ed.) Pref. to Edw. VI sig. A.v Reason is thexpressyng of a iuste matter, with witty persuasions, furnyshed with lerned knowledge. 1564 T. Harding iii. f. 142 We may not argue by reason in this sorte [etc.]. 1620 T. Granger 8 That part of euery proposition that goeth afore in reason, howsoeuer the words be placed, is the Theme there handled. 1647 H. More Interpr. Gen. 433 I understand by Reason, the deduction of one thing from another. the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [noun] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 287 Þe emptes..taken gret charge of here comune profyte and hauen þer of resoun and mynde. 1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy iii. xxiv More respect suld haue bene had to ressoun of þe senatouris þan to ony ressoun of þare vassalege or meritis. the world > relative properties > number > ratio or proportion > [noun] ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) ii. pr. vii. l. 1504 Al þe envyronynge of þe erþe aboute ne halt but þe resoun of a prykke at regard of þe gretnesse of heuene. c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. (Takamiya) (1977) 172 (MED) Þu must make it..aftyr þe qwalyte of þe sygne and aftyr resun. a1500 (?a1425) tr. (Lamb.) 86 If it be yn tokenynge ffleumetyke, a lityll [sc. medicine] after þe qualyte & resoun of þe tokenynge. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay xiv. 242 There is the same reason in the proportion of eight vnto six that is of fower vnto three. 1614 W. Bedwell i. 8 Like-plaines haue a doubled reason of their correspondent sides. 1678 J. Hawkins vi. 60 A third [number], which shall have such reason to the one, as the other hath to unite. 1713 G. Berkeley iii. 126 The Moments, or Quantities of Motion in Bodies, are in a direct, compounded Reason, of the Velocities and Quantities of Matter contained in them. 1769 J. Gore (ed. 2) 10 There is the same Reason of 8 to 12, and of 12 to 18, as of 18 to 27, each being sesquilateral. 17. the world > action or operation > manner of action > [noun] ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius (BL Add. 10340) (1868) ii. pr. vii. l. 1524 Many a nacioun dyuerse of tonge and of maneres and eke of resoun of hir lyuyng ben enhabitid in þe cloos of þilke litel habitacle. a1425 J. Wyclif (1869) I. 15 (MED) Þat man is a fool þat..woot not wheþir he juge bi God, or ellis by..þe fend; and ȝif men avysiden hem on þis resoun, noone shulde juge bi mannis lawe. a1450 (1978) 85 (MED) Sumtyme olde wise clerckus..fondon & writoun many grete resounus in helynge of bestus as wel as of men. c1450 (a1400) (Calig. A.ii) (1969) 1605 (MED) Þo he tok a schaft rounde Wyth cornall scharp y-grounde And ryde be ryȝt resoun. 1551 R. Record Argts. The fourth booke teacheth the right order of measuringe all platte formes, and bodies also, by reson Geometricall. 1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid xi. f. 312 There are..three reasons or meanes of measuring, which are called commonly dimensions. 1643 in (1703) II. vi. 141 We cannot believe the intermixture of the present Ecclesiastical Government with the Civil State, to be other than a very good reason. the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > [noun] 1567 tr. A. Hales in J. Jewel (new ed.) ii. ii. 210 If a Dogge, or a Sowe shoulde happen to swallow downe the whole Hoste being Consecrate, I see no reason, but the body of our Lorde maie passe withal into the belly of the Dogge, or of the Sowe. c1592 C. Marlowe v. ii Since things are in thy power, I see no reason but of Malta's Wrack. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. iv. 210 When I looke on her perfections, There is no reason, but I shall be blinde. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. i. 403 I see no reason but suppos'd Lucentio Must get a father. View more context for this quotation 1700 A. Collins 30 He finds Scriptures pertinent to these Things brought to his Mind, he hath no Reason but to conclude they come from the Holy Spirit. Phrases P1. Noun phrases. a. a1350 in G. L. Brook (1968) 36 (MED) Richard, rote of resoun ryht..of maidnes meke þou hast myht. ?a1450 tr. Lanfranc (BL Add. 12056) (1894) 8 (MED) He moste stodyen in..art, þat techyth hym to preven ys proposiciones with gode resoun. a1538 T. Starkey (1989) 97 Yf man wold folow ever ryght reson & the jugement therof. 1568 (a1508) W. Kennedy Flyting (Bannatyne) in (1998) I. 210 It war aganis bayth natur and gud ressoun That Dewlbeiris bairnis wer trew to God or man. 1611 M. Smith in Transl. Pref. ⁋1 That the Church be sufficiently prouided for is so agreeable to good reason and conscience. 1647 H. More ii. i. ii. xvii The Dog, the Horse..Will all..claim their share in use of right reason. 1711 A. Pope 14 If once right Reason drives that Cloud away, Truth breaks upon us with resistless Day. 1720 64 My Countrymen must excuse me, if I say, upon the Square of right Reason we make as ill a Figure as they do in Italy or Asia. 1809 S. T. Coleridge 10 Aug. 44 The clue of right Reason, which we are bound to follow in the communication of Truth. 1887 R. Browning G. B. Dodington in i Right reason being judge. 1910 VII. 716/1 Those likes and dislikes that are not under full and absolute control of right reason and strong will-power. 1989 S. R. L. Clark vii. 136 Natura naturans, the spiritual cause and principle that governs the entire phenomenal world, is also what is experienced in us as right reason, conscience, the command of God. b. the world > action or operation > advantage > expediency > expedience > [noun] > as ground of action 1585 R. Parsons i. Pref. f. 17v This only reason of state holdeth many of their side, from comming to vs, who otherwise in conscience would haue no scrupule at al. 1600 E. Blount tr. G. F. di Conestaggio 6 According vnto reason of State. 1622 F. Bacon 3 As if the King..were become effeminate and lesse sensible of Honour, and Reason of State, then was fit for a King. 1660 R. Coke Elements Power & Subjection 116 in King Charles had not the same Reason of State to indulge the House of Commons. 1735 Visct. Bolingbroke (1752) ii. 39 The notion of attaching men to the new government..was a reason of state to some. 1756 E. Burke 38 The Whole of this Mystery of Iniquity is called the Reason of State. It is a Reason, which I own I cannot penetrate. 1797 E. Burke Lett. Peace Regic. France iii, in (1815) VIII. 273 But reason of state and common sense are two things. 1839 W. O. Manning vi. viii. 157 Reasons of state sometimes induced a monarch to refuse all ransom for a prisoner. 1897 J. Morley 40 The most imposing of all incarnations of the doctrine that reason of State covers all, is Napoleon. 1926 14 July 13/1 These trials are, without exception, held in secret, avowedly for reasons of State. 1991 J. Sherr (ed. 2) 89 Prudence, amour propre and ‘reason of state’ give the Party an interest in maintaining its pre-eminence in both the military-technical and military-political realms. 2006 (Nexis) 25 Feb. 39 The Royal Family is obliged for reasons of state to remain neutral. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > lack of reasoning, illogicality > [noun] > instance of 1589 R. Greene 78 Womens reasons would seeme no reasons, especially in loue which is without reason. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. ii. 22 I haue no other but a womans reason: I thinke him so, because I thinke him so. View more context for this quotation a1641 R. Montagu (1642) 106 They were, scilicet, because they were; which is more foolish then a womans reason. 1736 N. Bailey et al. (ed. 2) at Because ‘Because’ is a Woman's Reason. 1768 A. Tucker II. i. 38 A pretty way of proving the point, being no better than the ladies reason, it is divisible because it is. 1792 M. Wollstonecraft v. 254 This mode of arguing, if arguing it may be called, reminds me of what is vulgarly termed a woman's reason. For women sometimes declare that they love, or believe, certain things, because they love, or believe them. 1891 T. Hardy III. xlv. 94 ‘What don't you believe?’ ‘Your conversion. Your scheme of religion.’ ‘Why?’.. ‘Because a better man than you does not believe in such.’ ‘What a woman's reason!’ 1922 J. Joyce ii. xv. [Circe] 474 Bah! It is because it is. Woman's reason. Jewgreek is greekjew. d. the age of reason. the world > people > person > adult > [noun] > adulthood or maturity > legal maturity 1650 J. Reynolds 2 At the age of seven years..the Physnomy of his face..did perfectly prognosticate that his Princely self would at the age of reason undoubtedly merit to be triumphantly crowned. 1705 W. Wall II. x. 399 At what Age the Children of Christians should be baptiz'd; whether in Infancy, or to stay till the Age of Reason. 1786 tr. J. W. von Goethe xxxiv. 146 No child before he attains the age of reason, and the faculties of comparing good and bad, ever thinks of death but as a terror that hangs over him. 1884 W. E. Addis & T. Arnold 17/1 The age of reason is generally supposed to begin about the seventh year... At that time a child becomes capable of mortal sin. 1947 E. Sutton tr. J.-P. Sartre viii. 126 You have..reached the age of reason, my poor Mathieu…but you try to dodge that fact too, you try to pretend you're younger than you are. 1955 tr. G. de Maupassant 1237 I am seven years old today. As it is the age of reason, I want to thank you for having brought me into this world. 2007 (Nexis) 3 Oct. 17 Before a child reaches the age of reason, (7)..[he or she] thinks everything in life is about him or her. the world > time > relative time > the past > historical period > [noun] > other historical periods 1770 J. Beattie iii. 497 The present state of the abstract sciences is a melancholy proof that what I say is true. This is called the age of reason and philosophy; and this is the age of avowed and dogmatical atheism.] 1792 T. Paine v. 167 The present age will hereafter merit to be called the Age of reason, and the present generation will appear to the future as the Adam of a new world. 1794 T. Paine (title) The age of reason; being an investigation of true and fabulous theology. 1860 J. H. Stirling Macaulay in (1868) 122 The up-lighting of the ‘age of reason’. 1891 G. B. Shaw i. 10 In process of time the age of reason had to go its way after the age of faith. 1902 G. K. Chesterton 129 Carlyle..denied every one of the postulates upon which the age of reason based itself. 1926 R. H. Tawney i. 61 The sanguine optimists of the Age of Reason. 1971 R. J. White xviii. 200 You medieval scholars suffer from a double dose of spiritual pride where the Age of Reason is concerned. 2004 17 Dec. 15/4 He belongs to an age of dissentients who have always been keen on parallels between themselves and the free-thinkers of the Age of Reason. P2. Verbal phrases, esp. relating to conformity with rational thought (see branch II.). 1387–8 Petition London Mercers in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt (1931) 36 (MED) The which wyth yowre ryghtful lordeship ygraunted for moost pryncipal remedye, as goddes lawe & al resoun wole, that no domesman stonde togidre Juge & partye. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland (Laud 581) (1869) B. x. 112 (MED) Whi shulde we..now ben for þe werkes of Adam Roten and to-rende? resoun wolde it neuere. 1423 IV. 257/2 Hit semeth resoun wolde he shuld have the disavaille therof, and not the Marchant. a1450 (1969) l. 2570 Resun wyl excusyn us alle. a1500 (a1400) (Chetham) (1889) 1031 (MED) Ressone wille, it is not to layne, He shuld not love, but he be lovyd agayne. 1526 Acts xviii. 14 Yf it were a matter of wronge,..reason wolde that I shuld heare you. [So Coverdale and King James] 1600 W. Shakespeare iv. i. 155 Our cause [is] the best: Then Reason will our hearts should be as good. View more context for this quotation a1628 J. Carmichaell (1957) 97 Reason wald, that reasoun sould reule the congregation. 1765 W. Stevenson II. 293 Reason would here all mankind should be taught. 1810 G. Crabbe iii. 37 Still Reason wills that we our Pastor pay, And Custom does it on a certain day. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > employ reason [verb (intransitive)] a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) l. 6399 (MED) For if þair tunges spac resun, þair hertes ai war wit tresun. a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Lamb.) (1887) i. l. 10287 (MED) Arthur wiste þey seide reson, & wel excused hem of þe Saxon.] 1528 sig. b vv Beleve me thou speakest reason. 1545 at Ius Ius dicis, thou speakest reason. 1600 W. Shakespeare v. i. 41 There thou speakst reason . View more context for this quotation 1664 J. Wilson v. iii Troth he speaks reason. 1703 M. Pix iv. i. 46 You're the first Person..I ever heard speak Reason; therefore, 'tis Natural I shou'd believe ye. 1729 J. Gay ii. ix. 45 Perhaps..you may once in your life hear a woman speak reason. 1848 H. W. Herbert x. 54 Be silent, child, if you cannot speak reason. 1889 G. Gissing I. xiii. 287 It's no good speaking reason to you now, but maybe you'll understand some day. 1964 15 75 Othello eavesdropping on Iago and Cassio; or Lear bedecked with weeds speaking reason in madness. 1989 18 4 I hope to die before I live in a world that will only speak reason. c. to have reason. the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > truthfulness, veracity > speak truly [verb (intransitive)] > be right c1475 (Folger) (1969) 445 (MED) Truly, me seme ȝe haue reson. 1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara (1568) i. x. 13 b This if they had demaunded of the true God, they should haue had reason. 1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte i. 8 Aristotle excepteth naturall Philosophie, saying, a yoong man is not of fit disposition for this kind of doctrine, wherein it semeth he hath reason. 1624 W. Bedell vi. 95 The King him~selfe said aloud, that both sides had reason. 1668 J. Dryden iii. 26 Sir M. You have Reason, sir! Mood. There he is again too; the Town Phrase. 1704 J. Swift Disc. Mech. Operat. Spirit i, in 296 The Objectors have Reason, and their Assertions may be allowed. 1771 ‘Junius’ (1772) II. xliii. 147 Louis the fourteenth had reason when he said..‘The Pyrenees are removed’. 1508 (Chepman & Myllar) sig. diiiiv Heir mak I the reward as I haue resoune. 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch 200 You shall haue reason to beleeue me better, for matters touching Hannibal, then Terentius Varro. 1597 Bp. J. King xiii. 177 Hee had reason to exclaime as hee did. 1600 W. Shakespeare iii. i. 135 Mee thinks..you should haue little reason for that. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. v. 2 I. Why how now Hecat, you looke angerly? Hec. Haue I not reason..? View more context for this quotation 1663 S. Butler i. iii. 184 Noble Orsin, th' hast Great reason to doe as thou say'st. 1735 J. Swift Humble Addr. to Parl. in IV. 214 If this blessed Part of our Law be eludible at Pleasure..we shall have little Reason to boast. 1776 66/1 I have reason to remember it. I was, after the battle, flung into confinement. 1790 W. Bligh 1 I sailed on the 27th, having every reason to expect..that they would continue healthy. 1824 W. Scott III. v. 134 ‘I applaud your caution’, said Darsie. ‘You have reason’, replied his sister. 1859 F. E. Paget 353 I had good reason to hope that I was being of use at Roost. 1941 R. Warner xi. 179 Perhaps he feared that I would attack him and, as I was taller and stronger than he was, he had some reason, perhaps, to be afraid. 1966 J. Derrick ii. 89 The teacher..has good reason for confining questions to 1st and 2nd person forms only at first. 1972 J. Berger III. vi. 198 It was not wrong of your husband to threaten me, he said, he has every reason to be jealous. 2006 (Midwest ed.) 11 Sept. i. 1/1 Doctors had reason to believe that Lilly could be weaned off the shots. 1528 T. Paynell tr. Arnaldus de Villa Nova in Joannes de Mediolano sig. B iij Considerynge then that mans eies be colde of nature: hit standeth with reason they shulde be washed with colde water and not with hotte. 1596 J. Harington sig. G6 And thys standes with good reason. 1612 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes i. i. 6 For it stood greatly with reason, seeing his Lord and Master changed his estate and vocation, that he should alter likewise his denomination. 1620 T. Alured Let. in J. Gutch (1781) I. 173 Which stands to reason, and agrees with nature. 1632 P. Holland tr. Xenophon 149 It standeth to good reason, that they who repose mutuall trust one in another, will joyntly sticke to it. 1698 Earl of Orrery 137 It stands to reason, that he thought the Expression common enough; or else he would not have us'd it. 1705 H. Blackwell (new ed.) 34 Schol. What you say stands to a great deal of Reason, and I will observe your Directions. a1774 A. Tucker (1777) III. ii. 8 When we say a thing stands to reason, or is discordant from it. 1857 J. Ruskin i. 35 It stands to reason that a young man's work cannot be perfect. 1873 W. Black xxiv. 395 Of course it stands to reason that the rich never have justice done them in plays and stories; for the people who write are poor. 1954 A. Thirkell 292 She did not find them holding hands... But it stood to reason at their age. 1989 A. Davies x. 142 Stands to reason, right? The past is past, so we can't do anything about it. 2005 T. Hall xi. 248 It stands to reason that they will be ‘Englished’ too... But it will take time. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > employ reason [verb (intransitive)] 1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius (1858) I. 596 For na counsall that tyme wald he heir ressoun. 1600 W. Shakespeare i. iii. 5 You should heare reason. View more context for this quotation 1692 Bp. G. Burnet viii. 101 [This] may put some of them in a greater towardness to hear Reason. 1719 D. Defoe 57 The Rogues were now no more capable to hear Reason, than to act Reason. 1768 O. Goldsmith i. 14 When I'm determined, I always listen to reason, because it can then do no harm. 1832 H. Martineau vi. 101 The people were now in a condition to hear reason. 1880 T. Hardy iii. 31 Her impression is that your wife will listen to reason. 1960 B. Kops 57 No longer holding on to pipe dreams in the sky—and now you've got rid of your son—maybe you'll listen to reason. 1986 K. Moore i. 3 She really ought not to go on living at that place on her own, but I doubt very much if she'll hear reason. 2002 R. Mistry (2003) ii. 10 Their beloved Nari had finally listened to reason and agreed to settle down. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. ccxxij v He had hys reasons whye he did so, & was thought to haue had a greater foresyghte in thynges. 1593 R. Bancroft xxxiv. 446 Neither doubt we, but that men of so great learning, and of so great antiquitie..haue their reasons. 1604 J. Godskall sig. G They which goe in the countrey haue their reasons why they carrie with them such and such necessaries. 1675 A. Huyberts 24 There are good store of the best Physians about Town that are of the same mind; and they have their Reasons for it, which (upon occasion) they will produce: I also have my Reasons. 1721 C. Cibber i. 19 I beg you take no notice to Sophronia of my being in Town: I have my Reasons for it. 1797 S. J. Arnold i. ii. 9 You have your reasons, no doubt. 1871 ‘G. Eliot’ (1872) I. v. 77 Celia..had her reasons for persevering, though she was beginning to be a little afraid. 1904 32 455/2 ‘Do you think he did it?’ ‘Oh yes,..but he had his reasons!’ 1993 R. Doyle (1994) 139 ‘I'm going to Africa.’ ‘Are you? Why?’ ‘I just am,’ I said. ‘I have my reasons.’ g. to see reason. the mind > will > motivation > have motive [verb (intransitive)] 1582 in John viii. 34 (note) The Reader may see great reason why we also say Amen, Amen, and durst not translate it. 1598 W. Shakespeare i. ii. 182 If he fight longer then he sees reason, ile forsweare armes. View more context for this quotation 1620 T. Venner iii. 52 To their opinion..I see no reason why I should yeeld my subscription. 1686 E. Halley Let. 22 May in I. Newton (1960) II. 431 Mr Hook seems to expect you should make some mention of him, in the preface, which, it is possible, you may see reason to præfix. 1730 J. Clarke (ed. 2) 154 I never yet saw reason..to believe [etc.]. 1788 J. Wesley 6 Mar. (1931) VIII. 43 If you see reason to believe he is truly penitent, we may possibly try him a little longer. 1833 H. Martineau (ed. 3) v. 62 I began this winter by admiring Sir Henry's benevolence..more than I saw reason to do afterwards. 1871 H. Alabaster 251 I see no particular reason to discredit the Ceylonese tradition. 1928 E. Waugh i. xii. 132 It has always been a mystery to me why people marry... I can't see the smallest reason for it. 1989 40 560 He sees no good reason for denying, in principle, that agreement is possible in economics. 1629 J. Mabbe tr. C. de Fonseca xix. 329 If he shut his eyes, and wil not see reason, he is more fierce and cruell than all of them put together. 1711 E. Settle iii. 40 When your Eyes Are open'd to see Reason, and accept The Offers I have made, you may command Your Prison-Keys. 1813 R. Cumberland iv. 422 We quarrell'd, I confess, and well nigh fought; but I saw reason, and for once I was pacified. 1884 6 Oct. 7/4 The House of Lords might depend upon it that if they did not see reason at the eleventh hour the people of England would get a grip at them. 1936 J. C. Downie 108 What we call an outlaw is a horse that will not see reason, refuses to be ridden, and bucks worse each time he is saddled and mounted. 1966 F. Nwapa xi. 211 He appealed to his wife to see reason, and when it was all in vain, he fell asleep. 2005 (Nexis) 1 Oct. 11 If the intoxicated patron fails to see reason, the situation may become unpleasant or even dangerous. P3. Prepositional phrases. the world > relative properties > relationship > in relation to [phrase] > in respect of or with regard to the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [phrase] > because of a1350 Recipe Painting in (1844) 1 65 (MED) Mac the sise to goldfoyl, save tac a lutel radel ant grynt to thin asise, vorte loosen is colour, bi resun of the goldfoyl. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 16372 (MED) A prisun ar yee wont at hafe, for resun o þe dai. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) §57 Lordynges, the nede for the which we ben assembled..is ful heuy thyng..by reson of the grete damages þt in tyme comynge been possible to fallen. a1450 (Vesp.) (1902) 1542 Als who so wil..not..do þer trauayle..Or els þat loises mor or les Bi resoun of þer reklesnes. c1450 (c1386) G. Chaucer (Fairf. 16) (1879) l. 728 By reson [c1430 Cambr. Gg. 4. 27 rosoun] of hir age Ther myghte haue ben betwex hem mariage. a1500 (?c1450) 660 (MED) By reson of [Fr. par droit de] gentill fader ought come gentill issue. 1569 R. Grafton II. 39 In the night [they] had quarelled among themselues, by reason whereof they ranne vpon a rock. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny II. 83 It goeth into..collyries or eye~salues, by reason of a certain subtil mordacitie and penetratiue qualitie that it hath. 1611 Gen. xlvii. 13 All the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. View more context for this quotation 1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius 391 The Commanders being unserviceable, by reason of their wounds, quickly abated their Courage. 1722 No. 6098/1 His..Majesty being out of Order, by reason of a Cold. 1750 tr. C. Leonardus 137 By reason of its softness, it is turned and cut. 1840 J. F. W. Herschel (1857) 76 Their labours are highly deserving of notice by reason of their having attempted to execute this task systematically. 1873 26 Apr. 169/1 Pictures hung ‘upon the line’ at the Academy, for reason of their merit. 1885 6 June 397 Irritating by reason of its deficiency in organisation. 1902 B. T. Washington xiii. 202 He had been able to do this by reason of his knowledge of the chemistry of the soil. 1960 20 Mar. 40 Judge Lorne Stewart said that by reason of their refusal to authorise a transfusion..the parents were in the legal sense neglecting the child. 2000 (Master Locksmiths' Assoc.) Feb. 27/1 Disability discrimination, i.e. detrimental treatment by reason of disability. a1375 (c1350) (1867) 461 (MED) Redeli bi resoun þerfore hem rette i mai mi sorwe. a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Tobit x. 10 With manye woordis Raguel preȝede Tobie, & he hym bi no resoun [L. nulla ratione] wolde heren. ?a1425 (c1400) (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 80 Seynt peter the apostle and þei þat camen after him han ordeynd to make here confessioun to man; and be gode resoun: for [etc.]. c1450 (c1386) G. Chaucer (Fairf. 16) (1879) Prol. l. 183 Men by reson wel it calle may The daisie or elles the ye of day. a1500 Ratis Raving (Cambr. Kk.1.5) l. 1543 in R. Girvan (1939) 44 Sum oþir fellon men ȝit ar That..lauchful ore evyne Pwniscioune May thaim assith be na resone. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart I. xviii. 26 He delyuered them sufficient by reason, to pay all their small charges. 1563 W. Baldwin et al. (new ed.) Collingbourne 145 b The gylty alwayes are suspicious, And dread the ruyne that must sewe by reason. c1625 H. Bisset (1922) II. 251 Be richt and resson he that committis sic offence aucht to tyne his hyre. the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [phrase] > because a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) iv. 652 (MED) Which Ring bar of Oblivion The name, and that was be resoun That where it on a finger sat, Anon his love he so foryat, As thogh he hadde it nevere knowe. 1497 in G. Neilson & H. Paton (1918) II. 63 Be ressone that thai ken nocht [the] ground. 1534 in T. Wright (1843) 42 The cause of their dissent..was by reason that that article was clerely agaynst their professyon. 1537 in T. Wright (1843) 165 I ame myndet to let it staunde to the sprynge of the yere, by reason the days ar now so short. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 8 b They doe not flye, by reason they have no feathers in their wings. 1602 E. Hayes in J. Brereton 16 The soile is exceeding strong, by reason it was neuer manured. 1662 E. Stillingfleet i. vi. §1 By reason that their Moneths must of necessity by degrees change their place. 1745 P. Thomas 52 There were several Murmurings..by reason the Prize-Money was not immediately divided. 1788 Ld. Saltoun 57 The Viscount of Tarbat's eldest son was elected, one of the commissioners for the shire of Ross, by reason that his father is nobilitate. 1846 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in II. 91/2 By reason that she is adorned with every grace and virtue. 1889 ‘M. Twain’ xxxvii. 477 The slave..escaped in some strange way—by magic arts 'twas thought, by reason that he had no key. 1969 13 Jan. 19/4 (advt.) He may be regarded as interested in the matter by reason that he himself holds or may be about to hold another such office. 1491 in C. Innes (1845) I. 327 Jhone Stalkaris clame of intreis..be the reson of heritage. 1530 in W. H. Turner (1880) 88 Ther is a corporacyon made..amongst fischmongers.., by the reason wherof all maner of fische is sold derar. a1566 T. Hoby (1902) 46 It is a very uneasie waye by the reason of the great quantitie of great and sharpe stones that are upon yt. 1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero 7 By the reason of the craggednes and hard passages of their country. 1646 P. Bulkley v. 383 If we open the mouthes of men against our profession, by the reason of the scandallousness of our lives, we shall have the greater sinne. 1754 J. Preble in (1868) XXII. 408 The navigation to Norridgewalk is considerably difficult by the reason of the rapidity of the stream, and riffling falls. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 244 Hit nedyth a man do more abstynence in that tyme..by the reyson than [read that] in colde tyme the colde chasyth the naturall hete. 1541 R. Barnes (1573) 329/1 By the reason that priestes are so hoate of courage, and can not keepe theyr chastitie. 1637 R. Basset iv. 231 Qu. Wherefore is it, that..hot water is sooner cooled standing in the Sunne, than in a coole shade? An. By the reason that contraries doe contend for supereminence. 1858 9 Oct. 351/1 A cable constructed on that principle would not answer better than that which is now extended on the bed of the Atlantic, by the reason that the enormous pressure of water would convert the fibrous material into a substance almost as dense as gutta percha. the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > lack of reason, irrationality > [adverb] > without good reason 1600 Abp. G. Abbot vii. 147 For God many times doth crosse the actions of such as be deere vnto him, either to trye their patience,..or to make them loath the world, or for some other reason best knowne vnto himselfe. 1638 W. Chillingworth 84 Yet it hath pleased God (for Reasons best known to himselfe) not to allow us this convenience. 1704 J. Swift Pref. 19 At other times (for a Reason best known to my self) I thought fit to sharpen my Invention with Hunger. 1743 H. Fielding Jonathan Wild iv. xiii, in III. 383 To attain an End, which Fortune, for Reasons only known to herself, hath thought proper to deny them. 1816 J. Austen III. v. 61 Mr. Knightley..for some reason best known to himself, had certainly taken an early dislike to Frank Churchill. View more context for this quotation 1894 E. Œ. Somerville & ‘M. Ross’ III. xli. 133 Removing his pipe and the hat which, for reasons best known to himself, he wore while at work. 1938 ‘G. Graham’ vi. 250 She tried very hard to adopt me, but my father, for reasons best known to himself, wouldn't give me up. 1994 17 Sept. (Weekend Suppl.) 49/4 For reasons best known to themselves, large flocks of Japanese have taken up residence..among the Tudorbethan Groves and Crescents. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adverb] a1450 (1978) 87 (MED) Loke..þat he go wyde in resoun & þat his lymes tremeli, for þat is sygne of strengþe. 1455–9 J. Fastolf in (2004) II. 190 Y wolle yn reson be rewled and moderated by your discrecions. 1584 in (1827) I. 86 Albeit the said ansuer wes moir nor in resone we culd haif wischit. 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. ii. 42 Keeping such vile company as thou arte, hath in reason taken from me all ostentation of sorrowe. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) i. i. 223 Shal. Will you, (vpon good dowry) marry her? Slen. I will doe a greater thing then that, vpon your request (Cosen) in any reason . View more context for this quotation 1650 T. Bayly 97 The Law could not in reason take notice of any such thing. 1678 J. Bunyan 82 Had he had a thousand souls, they had in reason been cast away. View more context for this quotation 1712 E. Budgell No. 277. ¶12 I am willing to do anything in reason for the Service of my Country-women. 1823 J. Keble (1848) iii. 65 To..consider fairly, what effect, in all reason, their believing it ought to have on themselves. 1898 G. B. Shaw I. 186 If you want a cheque for yourself..you can name any figure you like—in reason. 1941 19 Nov. 438/1 One thing's always struck me, how little the ladies sweat—suppose I ought to say ‘perspire’. But, on the whole, it's a good thing, in reason. Opens the pores. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adverb] 1405 in J. Slater (Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Edinb.) (1952) No. 58 Gif thar be ocht that may plece yw that I may do of resoun. c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) iii. 5588 (MED) Aboue þe grounde ȝif þe body lie..of resoun it mvt putrefie. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville (Caxton) iv. xxx. f. lxxvj* They shall..brynge hit in to good couenable fourme as to suche a lord bilongeth of reson. c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 278 [To give] till otheris, quhat to thame suld appertene of gude resoun. a1500 tr. A. Chartier (Rawl.) (1974) 84 (MED) The Cristen thanne ought of reason to leve the olde cerymonyes. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert f. viii In some places the[y] sowe bothe pees and beanes vnderforow and those of reason must be sowen betyme. 1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy v. ii May it nocht be said to him of gude resoun: ‘Thow has ȝerelie wagis, suffir þareof ȝerelie laubouris?’ 1669 H. More Antidote Idolatry ix. 103 in The Council of Trent..must of all reason be conceived to mean these very Circumstances. the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > lack of reason, irrationality > [adverb] the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > lack of reason, irrationality > [adjective] > of animals, things, etc. c1390 (c1300) MS Vernon Homilies in (1877) 57 271 (MED) Þenne was þis Emperour ffeloun fful wroþ and al out of Resoun. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) 6086 (MED) Wykkedly me þenkeþ ys hyt doun, A man to gadyr oute of resoun [Fr. sanz resun], And do þerwith noun almes dede. ?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena (Harl.) (1966) 328 (MED) O how myche out of resoun or maner þis seemeþ to her iȝen. 1480 W. Caxton ccxix. 209 Mortimer disgised him with wonder riche clothes out of al maner reson. a1500 tr. A. Chartier (Rawl.) (1974) 93 (MED) Instede of attemperaunce thou hast put in an owtragiouse extremyte owt of all reason. c1540 (?a1400) 2222 We may boldly vs byld with bostis out of Reason. 1576 A. Fleming tr. C. Hegendorphinus in 385 You sell the same..to your Brother too deere and out of reason. 1611 J. Florio Disensato, sencelesse, vnsensed, out of reason. 1722 D. Defoe 329 Why look ye Mistress, says he, I won't be out of Reason with you then. 1796 F. Burney III. 371 ‘Money is what I most despise of all.’ ‘That's talking out of reason,’ said Mr Dennel, walking out of the shop with great disgust. 1801 W. Beattie 18 And for the haddocks! wae's my fell! They're out o' reason. 1932 C. Brooks 4 July (1998) 36 A tight market always makes for sudden jumps, but this was out of all reason. 1970 6 Oct. p. v/4 If there is a quick sale, the agent's percentage seems out of all reason. ?1316 Short Metrical Chron. (Royal) 841 in J. Ritson (1802) II. 308 (MED) So thourh god resoun He yeld hem heore tresoun. c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) 48 (MED) Man, whan he falleþ in to elde, Feble a wexeþ..Þourȝ riȝt resoun. a1425 (a1400) Titus & Vespasian l. 389 in (1903) 111 292 (MED) As god is lord of all þingges, So is þe Emperoure kyng of kyngges, And also londes þoruȝ resoun Beþ at his subieccioun. a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Lamb.) (1887) i. 3628 (MED) After Belyn, Gurgoint his sone Hadde þe heritage þorow resone. c1455 Burgh Laws (Adv.) c. 70 in at Reso(u)n, Resso(u)n Ony man..that thru resone may walk the man sal haf [etc.]. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adverb] 1613 T. Adams 36 These ride in the open streetes, whiles the other lurke in close woods. And to reason, for [etc.]. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adverb] c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 1670 (MED) Aske at it Alexander quat þou will apon reson, And I sall grant. m. with reason. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > [adverb] c1300 St. James Great (Laud) 359 in C. Horstmann (1887) 44 (MED) Seint Ieme ne miȝhte habbe þe soule ne with-inne him come with no resun ne riȝhte. c1330 (?c1300) (Auch.) (1937) 874 (MED) Þan seyd þai alle wiþ resoun, Sir Amis schuld ben in prisoun. a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng (Harl.) 3768 (MED) With resun [Fr. par resun] mayst þou þe wraþþe and flyte Aȝens vyleynye and synne. a1425 (Lansd.) (1902) 6 (MED) Wid summe sal tu faire speke, and summe gete wid chastiment..and lere þaim ilkain eftir þar maner wid resun. 1490 W. Caxton tr. (1885) vii. 159 As ye knowe, I wolde be reformed wyth rayson to the sayenge of his barons. a1500 (?c1300) (Chetham) l. 179 Syr Guy answered hym with reason And sayd: ‘Alas, for here is treason!’ 1561 T. Hoby in tr. B. Castiglione Ep. Translatour sig. A.iiiv Because you may see him confirme with reason the Courtly facions. 1572 (a1500) (1882) 84 That we micht with ressoun baith thus excuse. 1692 J. M. tr. A. de La Roche-Guilhen 11 He feared with reason to be unable to do any thing for Zingis. the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [phrase] > with reason 1667 J. Milton ii. 431 With reason hath deep silence and demurr Seis'd us. View more context for this quotation 1782 W. Cowper Hope in 157 Could he with reason murmur at his case, Himself sole author of his own disgrace? 1859 J. S. Mill 190 The objections which are urged with reason against State education. 1960 21 June 2 Made any boobs lately? Rube Goldberg seems to avoid them. With good reason. 2000 9 Jan. 36/1 Doctors argue, with reason, that the new enthusiasm for placebo surgery is driven by hospital bean counters. 1855 E. J. Hopkins & E. F. Rimbault xxxvii. 274 It can never be correctly said that ‘unoccupied space’ in an Organ, within reason, is ‘lost room’. 1890 Sept. 432/1 The more they are shot [sc. partridges], within reason, the more they be. 1947 Mar. 143/1 Within reason you may do as you please. Cattle ranching hasn't changed much with the years. 1989 Spring 12/3 Within reason, he can live almost anywhere in England and still pursue his own career. 2003 Summer 88/1 The freedom to do what we want, within reason, for a reasonable amount of time. o. without reason. the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > lack of reason, irrationality > [adverb] > without good reason a1382 (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xiv. 3 To the coueitous man, and hard, withoute resoun [L. sine ratione] is substaunce. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 16296 Qui smites þou me wit-vten right resun. c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 53 In this is defendid al vnleifful vsurpacion of othir mennys thingis, as..al thing takin be force and be lordschip of the pepil withoute reson. 1484 W. Caxton Life of Æsop in 2 b He..went in without rayson and hath eten al the fygges. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton (BL Add.) (1975) 1422 (MED) But longe delayed it is withowte resone. 1569 R. Grafton II. 629 This multitude..spoyled, robbed and rifled, without reason or measure. 1584 W. Barrett in R. Hakluyt (1589) i. 213 They rate the goods without reason as they lust themselues. the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > chance [phrase] > without cause or reason a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 399 Þe auctoritees of holy Scripture beeþ al oon,..and God dooþ no þing wiþoute resoun. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng (Petyt) (1996) ii. 2074 Kyng Steuen..þat withouten reson, of þis lond had þe state & conquered þe coroun. ?c1450 tr. (1906) 2 Of the whiche there come to diuerse gret defames and sclaundres withoute cause and reson. 1509 S. Hawes (1928) xi. 42 They fayned, no fable without reason For reasonable is all theyr moralyte. 1595 sig. I6 Nature doth make nothing without reason or in vaine. 1601 R. Dolman tr. P. de la Primaudaye III. 398 Yet hath not God giuen their beeing without good and iust reason. 1748 S. Richardson V. xii. 114 The women, so used to cry without grief, as they are to laugh without reason..must needs pull out their handkerchiefs. 1833 H. Martineau (ed. 3) iii. 30 It is very wrong in you to make your neighbours discontented without reason. 1876 tr. P. Blaserna iii. 46 The poets speak often, and not without reason, of the harmony of the waves. 1958 P. Oliver in P. Gammond i. 19 Not without good reason the pre-Emancipation planter looked on the spirituals with some suspicion. 2003 16 Nov. (Metropolitan ed.) b7/2 The ‘flash mob’ phenomenon, where hundreds of people gather..and disperse quickly, seemingly without reason. Compounds1589 G. Puttenham iii. xix. 191 This assignation of cause the Greekes called Etiologia... We also call him the reason-rendrer. 1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas i. iii. 106 Reason-scanners haue resolued all, That heauie things hang'd in the Aire, must fall. 1833 14 180 That in these times, we say, the reason-mongers should make a desperate struggle to obtain a hearing for their theories, were a wise, and politic, and consistent part. 1844 Apr. 482/1 The dry but reason-giving pages of Euclid. 1870 24 Dec. 1536/1 If his heavy artillery could not penetrate the thick reason-plating of the states~men, it was passion-proof. 1874 W. Wallace tr. G. W. F. Hegel §36. 61 A reason-derived knowledge of God is the highest problem of philosophy. 1888 F. M. Crawford I. 69 Doctor Saul Ascher, who died an abstract death from reason-poisoning. 1906 T. Hardy i. ii. 16 Here, then, ends My hope for Europe's reason-wrought repose! 1933 W. S. Dell & C. F. Baynes tr. C. G. Jung viii. 186 In works of art of this nature..we cannot doubt that the vision is a genuine, primordial experience, regardless of what reason-mongers may say. 1973 Mar. 75/2 The frost of the passage, its chill, reason-contained fire is even more remarkable. 2006 10 Apr. 81/1 Reason-giving, Tilly says, reflects, establishes, repairs, and negotiates relationships. C2. 1671 Narr. Arrest & Arraignm. in W. Penn (1981) I. 199 Note, but the Man was a little dimm'd, & at that time reason proof. 1829 Oct. 442 A man who on this topic..is pretty nearly reason proof. 1877 J. Miller ii. xvi. 196 The woof And warp of life proves reason-proof. 2001 M. Midgley ii. xii. 129 It is not really possible to keep up a reason-proof barrier between subjects and objects, between inner and outer, between thought and things. 1877 W. Jones 416 Among the motto or ‘reason’ rings, as they were termed, is an example..found in 1823, at Thetford. 1828 E. Irving III. vii. 1209 This reason-worship, which is Infidelity, and which, if time permitted, I could shew to be Atheism. 1893 G. A. Denison in 24 Mar. 325 Reason-worship, the parent of all heresies. 1981 Z. Leader i. 23 Blake took full note of connections of this sort—between, that is, educational innovation, political radicalism, and reason worship. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022). † reasonn.2Origin: Apparently a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: raising n.1 Etymology: Apparently a variant of raising n.1 Compare Anglo-Norman resne , reson (second half of the 14th cent. or earlier). Compare β. forms at raising-piece n.1 N.E.D. (1904) gives the pronunciation as (rī·z'n) /ˈriːz(ə)n/. Obsolete. society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > framework of building > [noun] > joist > support for c1330 (?c1300) Reinbrun (Auch.) in J. Zupitza (1891) 657 (MED) Þe reftes al cipres be..Þe resins wer of fin coral, To-gedre iuned wiþ metal. 1450 in (1830) II. p. lv (MED) To all the which hous..Thomas shall fynde plates, postes, punchons..reasons, beames..rafturs. 1450 in (1830) II. p. liv (MED) The which flores with þe resons above shullen accord in heith with the flores and resons of an other hous there. 1535 in (London Record Soc.) (1989) 48 No. 115 Item for wetherbordyng and daubing of walls of the Celers & garnars and for a newe resyn within the same rowme..of the wyndows iii li. vis. viiid. 1691 J. Ray (ed. 2) 54 Pan..is that piece of Wood that lies upon the top of the Stone-Wall,..to which the bottom of the Spars are fastned: in Timber Buildings in the South it is called the Rasen, or Resen, or Resening. 1703 R. Neve 183 Betwixt them and the Sell, or Reson. c1736 S. Pegge (1876) Rezen, the raising; 'tis much the same as the wall-plate. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021). reasonv. Origin: Perhaps of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Perhaps also partly a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymons: French raisuner , raisonner ; reason n.1; areason v. Etymology: Partly (i) < Anglo-Norman raisuner, resoner, resuner (also raisner , reigner , etc.), Middle French raisonner (also raingnier , rainnier , raynier , raisgner , etc.; French raisonner ) to speak to (a person) (c1139 in Anglo-Norman), to question (c1170 or earlier), to determine, establish (1351), to employ the faculty of reason in forming conclusions (c1380), to discuss (a1403), to explain (a1403), to use reasons to support an opinion, to argue (1426), to reflect (a1481; probably partly < raison , etc. reason n.1 and partly < post-classical Latin rationare , rationari rationate v.), and partly (ii) directly < reason n.1 In sense 1 perhaps also partly (iii) aphetic < areason v. Compare rationate v. and its etymon post-classical Latin rationari. Compare also Old Occitan razonar (14th cent.), Catalan raonar (14th cent.), Spanish razonar (1207), Portuguese razoar (13th cent.), Italian ragionare (a1292). the mind > attention and judgement > enquiry > interrogation > question, interrogate [verb (transitive)] > call to account a1400 (a1325) (Gött.) l. 8676 I knew wel..Of þis tresun scho had me don. I hir resuned [Trin. Cambr. resoned, Fairf. aresoned] þan..Bot miht i neuer..Mi child gett. c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan (St. John's Cambr.) (1970) 76 Juno..took þe liknes of an auncient womman and come to Semelle, and wiþ feire wordis bigan to reson hir in so myche that Semelle knowliched to hir al þe loue of hir and of hir loue. a1450 (?c1300) (Cambr. Dd.1.1) 76 Be forn þe bisschop ihesu stod... Þe bisschop resownid [a1425 Cambr. Gg.5.31 culpid, a1425 Harl. oposed, c1450 BL Add. askede] him of his dedis. a1578 R. Lindsay (1899) I. 33 Quhen he had pansit in this maner wp and doun and ressonit himself for his slouthfulnes. a1600 (?c1535) tr. H. Boece (Mar Lodge) (1946) 186b It nedis nocht that be vthir witnes ȝe be resonit in this cais. 2. the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > argue, dispute, discuss [verb (intransitive)] the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > hold discussions about, debate [verb (transitive)] the mind > language > speech > conversation > converse [verb (intransitive)] ?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Paris) (1971) 181 Þe cause is for þat none of ham ben heled, as it schal be resoned [?a1425 N.Y. Acad. Med. shal be proued by resoun; L. rationabitur] folwyngliche. a1530 W. Bonde (1531) iii. f. Clxxxviiv They wyll reason ye mysteryes of our fayth, whiche be aboue reason. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. clxxvv Ther should be chosen two diuines to reason the matter. 1625 C. Burges 26 Thence a tender conscience may iustly thus reason the case. 1660 116 [He] was pleased to do me, and several other Gentlemen..the favour to reason the Law with us. 1749 H. Fielding V. xiii. iii. 19 To attempt to reason the Case with Sophia, did not appear to her one of those Methods. View more context for this quotation 1801 M. Edgeworth Prussian Vase in III. 11 I am in no humour to reason that point. 1850 2 Nov. 4 At last the old fellow got so tired of trying to please them, that he undertook as the last resource to reason the matter with them. 1881 H. James II. xiii. 158 She had reasoned out the matter elaborately; she had made it perfectly clear that she broke no faith. 1954 12 Oct. 9/4 All the soldiers (who reason the matter very closely in their spare time) agree that there are too many generals; all the generals (who are paid to reason the matter very closely during office hours) agree that there are too few soldiers. 1533 T. More iv. p. lxxix Tyndale..maketh mockes and mowes at that blessed sacrament, and calleth it but cake brede, and reasoneth it rather for starche full lyke a starke heretyke. 1608 W. Shakespeare ii. 105 Though the wisedome of nature can reason thus and thus, yet nature finds it selfe scourg'd by the sequent effects. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. iii. 177 This Boy that cannot tell what he would haue..Doe's reason our Petition with more strength Then thou hast to deny't. View more context for this quotation 1733 A. Pope i. 18 Say first, of God above, or Man below, What can we reason, but from what we know? 1796 E. Burke i. 55 This offer so reasoned plainly implies, that [etc.]. 1820 P. B. Shelley iii. iv. 112 It saw much, Yet idly reasoned what it saw. 3. transitive. With clause, direct speech, or indirect speech as object. the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > hold discussions about, debate [verb (transitive)] > about causes a1450 (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) l. 2809 (MED) Generides thoo he gan reason Whi the Sowdon did him in prison. 1529 J. Frith sig. Aiiiv If thou woldist reason, why God doth thus. 1597 W. Shakespeare i. iv. 90 I will not reason what is meant hereby, Because I wilbe guiltles of the meaning. View more context for this quotation 1598 W. Shakespeare ii. iv. 101 I must not haue you henceforth question me Whither I go, nor reason where about. View more context for this quotation 1644 J. Milton in tr. M. Bucer sig. B 3v He knew not that what his youth then reason'd without a pattern, had bin heard already. 1796 A. Yearsley 85 How oft we reason'd, why mysterious Fate Should set near bounds to intellectual pow'r! 1855 Ld. Tennyson Charge Light Brigade i, in 151 Their's not to reason why. 1864–8 R. Browning iv. i I will be quiet and talk with you, And reason why you are wrong. 1965 13 Jan. 13/1 There are still those who believe that a film actor's function is to do what he is told—and without reasoning why. 1984 A. Oakley (1985) 12 The school motto..‘Serve and obey’ signalled that knowledge was something passively created and received: that ours was not to reason why. 2001 A. Taylor (2002) vi. 45 I don't know what Herbert sees in it. Still, ours is not to reason why, I suppose. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > process of inferring, inference > infer, conclude [verb (transitive)] a1527 R. Thorne in R. Hakluyt (1582) sig. D2v I reason, that as some sicknesses are hereditarious,..so this inclination or desire of this discouerie I inherited of my father. 1550 J. Harington tr. Cicero f. 8v I can in no wyse agree with them, whiche began of late to reason thus, that the soule dieth with the body. 1597 W. Shakespeare i. iii. 256 + 10 Teach thy necessity to reason thus, There is no vertue like necessity. View more context for this quotation 1656 in J. A. Clyde (1937) I. 107 It wes reasoned that her base infeftment stante matrimonio wes mad null be the subsequent divorcement. 1732 A. Pope True Narr. what passed in London in J. Swift et al. 259 She reasoning, that it would be time enough..after the Comet had made its appearance. 1839 C. Dickens lix. 581 He reasoned that he might be asleep; and, listening, almost persuaded himself that he could hear him breathe. 1863 E. C. Gaskell II. iii. 62 He reasoned that first correct impression away with ingenious sophistry. 1937 26 July 30/2 He reasoned that if the women's apparel industry had a forecast survey..costly mistakes could be avoided. 1964 C. Chaplin x. 154 I added a small moustache, which, I reasoned, would add age without hiding my expression. 1984 G. H. Clarfield & W. M. Wiecek i. 18 Physicists reasoned that when an atom split, one or more of its neutrons would be released. 2007 13 Jan. 29/2 They reasoned that while some evolutionary changes involve the loss of genes.., others may be the result of genes being switched off. the mind > attention and judgement > answer > answer [verb (transitive)] 1841 C. Dickens i. 235 ‘What have I done?’ reasoned poor Joe. 4. a. To argue, have a discussion, discourse, or talk. The precise sense depends greatly on the context.the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > hold discussions about, debate [verb (transitive)] > with another the mind > language > speech > conversation > converse [verb (intransitive)] > with someone 1484 W. Caxton tr. G. de la Tour-Landry (1971) cxxiiii. 167 Yf one begynne to resonne and talke with yow of suche mater, lete hym alone. 1490 W. Caxton tr. (1885) i. 32 Thenne he resoned wyth his prynces and barons. 1530 J. Palsgrave 680/1 By that time that I have reasonned a lytell with hym I shall soone fele his mynde. 1569 R. Grafton II. 127 He sent for the Maior and Shirifes of London, with whome he reasoned greuously for the escape of one called John Gate. 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. viii. 27 I reasond with a Frenchman yesterday, who told me [etc.] . View more context for this quotation 1611 1 Sam. xii. 7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord. View more context for this quotation 1671 J. Milton iv. 230 How wilt thou reason with them, how refute Thir Idolisms, Traditions, Paradoxes? View more context for this quotation 1526 W. Bonde iii. sig. GGiiv Gloteny commeth in full subtelly, and reasoneth full craftely sayeng [etc.]. 1597 W. Shakespeare iv. iv. 466 Away towardes Salisburie, while we reason here, A royall battell might be wonne and lost. View more context for this quotation 1611 Matt. xvi. 7 And they reasoned among themselues, saying, It is because we haue taken no bread. View more context for this quotation a1638 J. Mede (1642) 90 S. Paul is said at Corinth, to have reason'd in the Synagogues every Sabath, & to have perswaded the Jews and the Greeks. 1864 E. H. Plumptre 13 He came among us; taught in synagogues, And reasoned in the Temple. 1529 T. More iv. xviii. f. C.xxv/2 Surely quod your frend and as for that he reasoneth agaynst praynge to sayntys is very bare. 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More sig. Qiiv He as sone as he was baptised began..to reason of Christes religion. 1598 W. Shakespeare i. i. 94 How well hees read to reason against reading. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iii. vii. 36 My Horse..'tis a subiect for a Soueraigne to reason on. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton ii. 558 Others apart sat on a Hill retir'd,..and reason'd high Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate. View more context for this quotation 1699 T. Baker Pref. sig. A 2v By reasoning against Learning, we must at the same time reason for it. 1742 W. Clarke & W. Bowyer tr. J. Trapp xv. 192 They are impious, such as reason against Providence. 1856 J. Ruskin III. iv. xvii. 315 Dante and Giotto..were subjected to one and the same influence, and may be reasoned about almost in similar terms. 1879 G. Meredith I. x. 169 She reasoned against him publicly. 1992 102 295 We do not need to reason against token-pessimism any more than we need to reason against type-pessimism. 1792 H. H. Brackenridge I. iv. ii. 88 The Captain behaved, for the present, as if he did not observe the preference; but the following day, waiting on the young lady at her father's house, he drew her into conversation, and began to reason with her. 1825 J. Neal 264 Peters interfered, again; went up to Walter; reasoned with him; expostulated with him;—pointed out, in a few brief words, the rashness and folly of his intention. 1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato (ed. 2) V. 72 Mankind must be reasoned with before they are punished. 1917 E. Wharton ii. 26 Miss Hatchard reasoned with her kindly, but to no purpose. 1988 A. Brookner x. 149 He was a grown man now, he reasoned with himself, not a frightened child. 1997 22 May 15/2 Besides, Sorge reasoned with his distant bosses, the Japanese were only fair-weather friends of the Führer. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > arrange logically [verb (transitive)] 1546 J. Bale f. 32 Here wolde the swynysh gentylman haue proued, both that S. Steuen dyed an heretyke, and S. Paule scysmatyke..if he myght haue reasoned out the matter with thys woman. 1645 G. Wither i. 3 To reason out a Truth, is..perfection. 1736 Bp. J. Butler i. vi. 116 There is no Hint or Intimation in History, that this System was first reasoned out. 1853 W. M. Thackeray i. 32 They are reasoned logically enough. 1874 W. B. Carpenter (1879) i. ix. 414 By thus reasoning-out the probable consequences of an action, motives..may lose more or less of their force. 1925 L. O'Flaherty i. 26 But he could not summon up courage to tackle them and place them in proper juxtaposition and reason out their relationship. 1961 I. Murdoch ix. 74 I had not felt too dejected; but this, I reasoned out, was because of a particular illusion which had been fostered by the whisky. 1990 J. Fane 11 The talkativeness, the readiness to discuss almost everything and reason it out..all this derived from the Duchess. 6. To think in a connected or logical manner; to employ the faculty of reason in forming conclusions. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > reason, ratiocinate [verb (intransitive)] 1551 T. Wilson sig. fv We will reason from the general worde to the kynd, or from the greater, to the lesse. a1640 J. Ball (1642) i. 131 To reason from the effect of things (you say) is unsound and unconcludable. 1651 T. Hobbes iii. xlii. 280 By Reasoning from the already received Scripture. 1695 R. Blackmore i. 13 He reason'd deep of Heav'n's mysterious Ends. 1749 D. Hartley i. iv. Concl. 512 Matter and Motion, however subtly divided, or reasoned upon, yield nothing more than Matter and Motion still. 1785 W. Paley i. vii To reason about his duty. 1812 H. Davy 3 If the phenomena are reasoned upon,..the enquirer is guided by analogy. a1822 P. B. Shelley tr. J. W. von Goethe Scenes from Faust in (1824) 412 Oh! he is far above us all in his conceit: Whilst we enjoy, he reasons of enjoyment. 1890 C. L. Morgan ix. 372 I do not..believe that they [sc. bees] reason upon the phenomena they deal with so cleverly. 1915 V. Woolf xiii. 206 Any clear analysis of them was impossible... She could not reason about them as about people whose feelings went by the same rule as her own did. 1991 Dec. 85/1 Reasoning from knowledge and rules to new knowledge is typically called forward chaining. 1620 T. Granger 2 God doth not reason, or discourse. 1651 T. Hobbes ii. xxix. 168 Kings deny themselves some such necessary Power..: wherein they reason not well. 1667 J. Milton ix. 765 Hee hath eat'n and lives, And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discernes, Irrational till then. View more context for this quotation 1713 J. Addison v. i It must be so—Plato, thou reason'st well. 1782 W. Cowper Doves i, in 299 Reas'ning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way. 1810 G. Crabbe xix. 265 Temptation came; I reason'd and I fell. 1846 J. Ruskin II. 109 Though we cannot, while we feel deeply, reason shrewdly. 1903 H. Keller i. xix. 66 He kept my mind alert and eager, and trained it to reason clearly, and to seek conclusions calmly and clearly. 1992 21 234 Her study of Taiwanese 4th–11th graders' ability to reason counterfactually. 1555 J. Heywood sig. D.iii Which..Shewth thy nose better sesond then thy hed resond. 8. the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > hold discussions about, debate [verb (transitive)] > in order to influence a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. ii. 158 These fellowes of infinit tongue, that can ryme themselues into Ladyes fauours, they doe alwayes reason themselues out againe. 1653 H. More 233 Men commonly reason themselves into an allowance of sin, by pretending humane infirmities or natural frailties. 1749 H. Fielding V. xv. ii. 205 You know us better than to talk of reasoning a young Woman out of her Inclinations. View more context for this quotation 1785 W. Paley i. vii A man, who has to reason about his duty, when the temptation to transgress it is upon him, is almost sure to reason himself into an error. 1811 J. Austen III. ii. 129 He tried to reason himself out of fears, which the different judgment of the apothecary seemed to render absurd. View more context for this quotation 1893 W. Forbes-Mitchell 289 David tried to reason him out of his fears. 1919 H. L. Wilson iv. 130 He said I ought to have a talk with Ed and reason him out of his folly. 1961 17 Aug. 3/5 He became obsessed with the idea that..he could sustain a scene longer than any other comic on the screen, and no one could reason him out of it. 1992 C. Lyas in O. Hanfling iv. 365 There is no way of reasoning us into seeing that a work has wit, grace and the like. 1642 H. More sig. F8v 'Tis not right To reason down the firm subsistencie Of things from ignorance of their propertie. 1686 J. Goad ii. i. 155 This..is the grand popular objection, which Cries, not reasons us down. 1713 J. Addison i. i Love is not to be reason'd down, or lost In high ambition. 1850 R. W. Emerson Montaigne in iv. 176 I can reason down or deny every thing, except this perpetual Belly. 1873 T. Hardy III. viii. 169 Lengthening time, which made fainter the..power of her presence, strengthened the mental ability to reason her down. 1900 x. 117 There is little need now to recapitulate those arguments with which I reasoned down the dictates of my better nature. 2002 G. Lerner i. ii. 41 I continued my bat mitzvah preparation, trying to fight down my distaste and reasoning down my doubts with common sense. the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > process of reasoning, ratiocination > arrange logically [verb (transitive)] > dispose of 1699 J. Williams 39 Some are ready to reason away apprehensions of Divine anger, because 'tis so long since they were guilty of them. 1792 R. Bage IV. lxxxiv. 12 If he could reason away the only feelings his new friend seemed to possess, he would scarce be conscious of his existence. 1813 J. Austen II. xv. 186 To know that she had the power of revealing what would..highly gratify whatever of her own vanity she had not yet been able to reason away. View more context for this quotation 1839 E. A. Poe Fall House of Usher in Sept. 150 I struggled to reason off the nervousness which had dominion over me. 1866 M. C. Harris xiv. 74 It was very natural, the doctor said to himself, trying to reason away the pain he felt. 1877 H. James xvii. 311 She had felt as if something strange and sad were going to happen; she had tried to reason away the fancy. 1955 64 434 They..embody their uneasiness in a form of words that enables them to reason it away. 2005 (Nexis) 3 Dec. 14 If I'd followed my instinct I'd never have married them, but I reasoned it away. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < |
