reason

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. sanity, intellect, common sense, judgment, explanation; ground, cause. See reasoning.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [The power of reasoning]

Syn. understanding, intelligence, mind, sanity; see acumen , judgment 1 .

2. [A process of reasoning]

Syn. logic, intellection, dialectics, speculation, generalization, rationalism, argumentation, inference, induction, deduction, discernment, analysis, ratiocination, rationalization.

3. [A basis for rational action]

Syn. end, object, rationale, intention, motive, ulterior motive, basis, wherefore, aim, intent, cause, design, ground, impetus, idea, motivation, root, incentive, goal, purpose, the why and wherefore; see also cause 1 , purpose 1 .

4. [The mind]

Syn. brain, mentality, intellect; see mind 1 .

See Synonym Study at cause .

• by reason of,

Syn. because of, on account of, for, by way of; see because .

• in reason,

Syn. in accord with what is reasonable, rationally, understandably; see reasonably 1 .

• out of all reason,

Syn. unreasonable, irrational, irresponsible; see extreme 2 , illogical .

• stand to reason,

Syn. be plausible, be logical, be feasible, seem all right; see convince .

• with reason,

Syn. understandably, justifiably, soundly, plausibly; see reasonably 1 , rightly .

• within reason,

Syn. within reasonable limits, justifiable, acceptable, within bounds; see reasonable 2 .

v.

1. [To think logically]

Syn. reflect, deliberate, contemplate; see think 1 .

2. [To seek a reasonable explanation]

Syn. suppose, infer, deduce, gather, draw from, conclude, generalize, adduce, rationalize, think through, study, analyze, examine, figure out, thresh out*; see also assume 1 , infer 1 .

3. [To discuss persuasively]

Syn. argue, trace, contend, dispute, debate, demonstrate, point out, prove, establish, discourse, justify; see also argue 1 , discuss .

See Synonym Study at think .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. explanation justification, grounds, motive, rationale, cause, why, occasion, excuse, basis.

2. thinking ability analysis, intellect, intelligence, wisdom, sense, smarts, logic, judgment, deduction, wit, brains. ''The only oracle of man.''— Ethan Allen. ''A harmony among irrational impulses.''—George Santayana.

II

v.

think, deduce, analyze, apply logic, judge, cogitate, draw conclusions, use one's head, deliberate, rationalize.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. A basis for an action or a decision: cause, ground (often used in plural), motivation, motive, spring. See START. 2. A justifying fact or consideration: basis, foundation, justification, warrant. See TRUE. 3. A statement of causes or motives: account, explanation, justification, rationale, rationalization. See EXPLAIN. 4. A fact or circumstance that gives logical support to an assertion, claim, or proposal: argument, ground (often used in plural), proof, wherefore, why. Idiom: why and wherefore. See REASON. 5. That which provides a reason or justification: call, cause, ground (often used in plural), justification, necessity, occasion, wherefore, why. Idiom: why and wherefore. See START. 6. Exact, valid, and rational reasoning: logic, ratiocination, rationality. See REASON. 7. What is sound or reasonable: logic, rationale, rationality, rationalness, sense. Idiom: rhyme or reason. See REASON. 8. A healthy mental state: lucidity, lucidness, mind, saneness, sanity, sense (often used in plural), soundness, wit (used in plural). Slang: marble (used in plural). See SANE.