| 释义 |
▪ I. reason, n.1|ˈriːz(ə)n|
Forms: α. 3 reisun, 4 -oun, (5 reissoun), 3–5 reyson, (5 -one), 4–5 reison; 3 reaisun, 4–6 rayson, (4 -oun), 6 raisson, rasone, Sc. rasoun. β. 3–5 resun, (4 -une), 3–6 resoun, (4– 5 -oune, 4 -owne), 3–7 reson, (4–6 -one); 4 reesoun, 5 -on; 5–6 ressoun, (7 Sc. -oune), resson, (6 -one); 7 Sc. reassoune, 4– reason.
[a. OF. reisun, -on, raisun, -on, reson, etc. (mod.F. raison):—L. ratiōn-em reckoning, account, relation, understanding, motive, cause, etc., vbl. n. f. rat-, ppl. stem of rēri to think, reckon: see ratio n. and ration.]
I.
1. a. A statement of some fact (real or alleged) employed as an argument to justify or condemn some act, prove or disprove some assertion, idea, or belief.
In common use down to c 1600; after that date somewhat rare, except as elliptical for sense 5.
a1225Ancr. R. 164 Ihereð nu reisuns hwui me ouh for to fleon þene world: eihte reisuns et te leste. c1305St. Katherine 31 in E.E.P. (1862) 90 Mid oþer reisouns of clergie þat maide preouede also Þat here godes noþing nere. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 41 Þei..Bryngeþ forth Ballede Resouns..And puyteþ forþ presumpcion to preue þe soþe. c1440J. Capgrave Life St. Kath. ii. 704 Ȝe may..New wordes reherse & new resones speke, Whech wer rehersyd & haue her answers eke. 1533Bellenden Livy v. xxv, It is said camillus movit þe Romanis fra migration to veos be mony ressonis. 1563Foxe A. & M. 1369/2 Cirillus..prouing to the Jewes that Christ was come, vseth this reason. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iii. xxii. 112 b, They would not depart without hauing of me some present, alleadging by their reasons that they had done me great honour in comming. 1600E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 15 Strengthning their reasons with many examples. 1638R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1841) I. 90 Ye have here also some Reasons against the Service in print. 1810Crabbe Borough xxi, They proved (so thought I then) with reasons strong That no man's feelings ever lead him wrong.
b. a woman's (or the ladies') reason: (see quots.).
1591Shakes. Two Gent. i. ii. 22, I haue no other but a womans reason: I thinke him so, because I thinke him so. a1641Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 106 They were, scilicet, because they were; which is more foolish then a womans reason. 1768–74Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) I. 287 A pretty way of proving the point, being no better than the ladies' reason, it is divisible because it is. 1792M. Wollstonecraft Rights Wom. 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.
c. Logic. One of the premises in an argument; esp. the minor premise when placed after the conclusion.
1826Whately Logic 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. [Note. The Major-premiss is often called the Principle: and the word Reason is then confined to the Minor.] 1864Bowen Logic vii. 211 To deny the Consequent is also to deny the Reason.
2. a. to give, yield or render (a) reason: to give an account (of one's acts or conduct). Now arch.
a1225Ancr. R. 82 Of swuche speche..schal euerich word beon irikened, & iȝiuen reisun, hwi þe on hit seide [etc.]. a1225Leg. Kath. 2248 Ich am her..mid alle mine hirdmen to ȝelden reisun [v.r. reaisun] for ham. 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 5966 Þus sal men þan yhelde resons sere Of alle þair lyf, als writen es here. 1382Wyclif Matt. xii. 36 Of euery ydel word that men speken, thei shul ȝelde resoun therof in the day of dome. c1400Rule St. Benet 42 Þe abbes..salle vmbeþinke hir..þat sho sal yelde resun of alle. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xxxiv, Ye have an undoubted right to ask your ain son to render a reason of his conduct.
†b. to do, put, or set to reason (tr. OF. mettre a raison): to bring or call to account. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 3881 Þan did he laban to resun: ‘Qui has þou don me sli tresum?’ 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 5791 It semes þat þe kyng had grete encheson To sette hym for þat kepyng to reson. 1425Rolls of Parlt. IV. 296/2 To putte ye said parties to reson.
†c. Monetary reckoning; pl. accounts, moneys. Obs.
1382Wyclif 1 Macc. x. 40, I shal ȝeue in eche ȝeris fiftene thousandis of siclis of syluer, of the kyngis reysons, that perteynen to me. 1382― Matt. xviii. 23 A man kyng, that wolde putte resoun with his seruauntis.
†3.
a. A statement, narrative, or speech; a saying, observation, or remark; an account or explanation of, or answer to, something. Also, without article, talk or discourse.
In common use throughout the 14th c. after OF. raison; in later examples perh. a fresh development of sense 1.
a1300Cursor M. 219 Þe last resun of alle þis ron Sal be of hir concepcion. Ibid. 1632 Drightin of heuen spak til him þan, And þus his resun he began. Ibid. 12211 Of ilk letter for to ask Resun of ilkan be nam. 13..Coer de L. 117 The kyng ham tolde, in hys resoun, It com hym thorugh a vysyoun. c1374Chaucer Boeth. iv. pr. vi. 111 (Camb. MS.) But I se now that þou art..weerey with the lengthe of my reson. c1400Mandeville (1839) xv. 165 And so seyn thei, that maken here resounes, of othere Planetes; and of the Fuyr also. 1460Lybeaus Disc. 109 Wiþ oute more resoun Duk, erl and baroun Wesch and ȝede to mete. 1481Caxton Myrr. ii. xxix. 122 Of the wyndes may men enquyre reson of them that vse the sees. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. i. 2 Your reasons at dinner haue beene sharpe and sententious. a1635Naunton Fragm. Reg. (1641) 35 The Queene..began to be taken with his election, and loved to heare his reasons to her demands.
†b. A fact, event, or incident, as a subject of discourse. Obs. rare.
13..Cursor M. 5456 (Gött.) Mani resunes he þaim tald, Bath þat þai suld ouer bide, And in þair last dais bitide. a1375Joseph Arim. 76 Þat tyme þat Augustus Cesar was Emperour..þis reson bi-gon þat I schal now rikenen.
†c. part of reason: a part of speech. Obs. rare.
1481Caxton Myrr. i. v. 16 Vnneth..knowe they their partes of reson whiche is the first book of grammaire. 1530Palsgr. Introd. 24 Partes of reason..they have thryse iii, for, besydes the viii parts of speche commen betwene them and the latines..they have also a nynth part of reason whiche I call article.
†4.
a. A sentence. Obs.
1388Purvey Prol. Bible xv. 57 Whanne oo word is oonis set in a reesoun, it mai be set forth as ofte as it is vndurstonden. 1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye 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. 1530Palsgr. Introd. 24 Of these letters, lyke as it is in all tonges, be made syllables, of syllables wordes, of wordes sentences or reasons.
†b. A motto, posy. Obs.
1434E.E. Wills (1882) 96 A ryng of golde with a ston, & a reson ‘sans departir’. 1463Bury Wills (Camden) 18 My armys and my reson therto, Grace me gouerne. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 80 Gounes..enbrodred with reasons of golde that sayd, adieu Iunesse, farewell youth.
II.
5. a. A fact or circumstance forming, or alleged as forming, a ground or motive leading, or sufficient to lead, a person to adopt or reject some course of action or procedure, belief, etc. Const. why, wherefore, that; of, for preps.; to with inf.
a1225Ancr. R. 78 Þis is nu þe reisun of þe veiunge hwi Isaie ueieð hope & silence. 1297R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9304 An oþer reson..meueþ more me þer to, Þat þe king..Mid vnriȝt halt þis kinedom. 13..E.E. Allit. P. C. 191 [He] Arayned hym..what raysoun he hade In such slaȝtes of sorȝe to slepe so faste. a1450Knt. de la Tour (1868) 122 She shewed so mani good resounes vnto the kynge her husbonde, that he forgaue Absolon. 1533Bellenden tr. Livy iii. xxxv, He couth fynd na resson quhy he aucht nocht to helpe þe romane pepill to recovir þe land. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 715 Brag. Sweet bloods I both may, and will [deny]. Ber. What reason haue you for't? 1633Bp. Hall Hard Texts, O.T. 560 Is there any reason in you..why I shd respect you any more than the very Ethiopians? 1662J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 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. 1711Addison Spect. No. 101 ⁋7 He made a Voyage to Grand Cairo for no other Reason, but to take the Measure of a Pyramid. 1763C. Jones Hoyle's Games Impr., Backgammon (1778) 181 For the same Reason avoid hitting any Blots which your Adversary makes. 1843Mill Logic i. iii. §7 Should we not have as much reason to believe that it still existed as we now have. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 7 There is no reason..to imagine that this melancholy tone is attributable to disappointment.
b. reason of state, a purely political ground of action on the part of a ruler or government, esp. as involving some departure from strict justice, honesty, or open dealing. Freq. without article, as a principle of political action. So † public reason.
A rendering of F. raison d'état or It. ragione di stato, the latter used or cited by Scarlett Estate Eng. Fugitives (1595) R iij, Ben Jonson Cynthia's Rev. (1599) i. i, Volpone (1605) iv. i, and Bacon Adv. Learn. (1605) i. ii. §3.
1611Florio, Ragione di stato, the law, reason, or policie of State. 1622Bacon Hen. VII 3 As if the King..were become effeminate and lesse sensible of Honour, and Reason of State, then was fit for a King. 1660R. Coke Power & Subj. 116 King Charles had not the same Reason of State to indulge the House of Commons. 1667Milton P.L. iv. 389 Public reason just..compels me now To do what else..I should abhorre. 1735Bolingbroke Stud. Hist. ii. (1752) 39 The notion of attaching men to the new government..was a reason of state to some. 1756Burke Vind. Nat. Soc. Wks. 1842 I. 34 The whole of this mystery of iniquity is called the reason of state. It is a reason which I own I cannot penetrate. 1897Morley Machiavelli 40 The most imposing of all incarnations of the doctrine that reason of State covers all, is Napoleon.
c. Phr. for reasons best known to oneself, for seemingly perverse reasons.
1638W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants 84 Yet it hath pleased God (for Reasons best known to himselfe) not to allow us this convenience. 1743Fielding Jonathan Wild iv. xiii. 383 Indeed those, who have unluckily missed it, seem all their Days to have laboured in vain to attain an End, which Fortune, for Reasons only known to herself, hath thought proper to deny them. 1847A. Brontë Agnes Grey xiii. 191 If they chose to ‘take’ me, I went; if, for reasons best known to themselves, they chose to go alone, I took my seat in the carriage. 1894Somerville & ‘Ross’ Real Charlotte III. xli. 133 Removing his pipe and the hat which, for reasons best known to himself, he wore while at work. 1938G. Graham Swiss Sonata vi. 250 She tried very hard to adopt me, but my father, for reasons best known to himself, wouldn't give me up.
6. A ground or cause of, or for, something:
a. of a fact, procedure, or state of things, in some way dependent upon human action or feeling.
a1300Cursor M. 551 For þis resun þat ȝee haue hard, Man is clepid þe lesse werld. c1450Holland Howlat 544 Throw this ressonis ald, The bludy hart it is cald. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iv. i. 15 Now doe you know the reason of this hast? 1659Pearson Creed ix. 697 This reason did the ancient Fathers render why the Church was called Catholick. 1698J. Asgill Argument 9 Custom it self, without a reason for it, is an argument only to fools. 1797Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XI. 477/1 This holds equally in metaphor and allegory; and the reason is the same in all. 1841Lane Arab. Nts. I. 105 Respecting this palace, and the reason of thy being alone in it.
b. of a fact, event, or thing not dependent on human agency.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. iv. pr. vi. 104 (Camb. MS.) To vnwrappen the hyd causes of thinges and to discouere me the resouns couered with dyrknesses. 1484Caxton Fables of æsop v. xii, The wulf on a daye came to the dogge and demaunded of hym the rayson why he was soo lene. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. i. iii. 30 When these Prodigies Doe so conioyntly meet, let not men say, These are their Reasons, they are Naturall. 1656tr. Hobbes' Elem. Philos. (1839) 484, I should think comets were made in the same manner... For I could very well from hence give a reason both of their hair, and of their motions. 1690Locke Hum. Und. iii. vi. §9 We know not their Make; and can give no Reason of the different Qualities we find in them. 1826Whately Logic (1840) App. Ambig. Terms xix, 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. 1879Lubbock Sci. Lect. ii. 67 There is not a hair or a line, not a spot or a color, for which there is not a reason.
†c. In phr. by the reason of or that. (Cf. 7.)
1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 244 Hit nedyth a man do more abstynence in that tyme..by the reyson that [text than] in colde tyme the colde chasyth the naturall hete. 1530in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxford (1880) 88 Ther is a corporacyon made..amongst fischmongers.., by the reason wherof all maner of fische is sold derar. 1538Starkey England i. i. 9 You se..what glotony..ys had in cytes and townys, by the reson of thys socyety and cumpany of men togydur.
7. (Without article.)
a. by († or for) reason of, on account of.
Very common in the Bible of 1611.
a1300Cursor M. 16372 A prisun ar yee wont at hafe, for resun o þe dai. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. xvii. 49 The ryche is yreuerenced by reson of his richesse. 1432–50tr. Higden, Harl. Contin. (Rolls) VIII. 471 John Holand, broþer to the kynge by reason of his moder. 1496Rolls of Parlt. VI. 512/2 [Lands] whiche came..to youre handes of possession, by reason and force of the same Acte. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 39 In the night [they] had quarrelled among themselves, by reason whereof they ranne vpon a rock. 1665Manley Grotius' Low C. Warres 391 The Commanders being unserviceable, by reason of their wounds, quickly abated their Courage. 1750tr. Leonardus' Mirr. Stones 137 By reason of its softness, it is turned and cut. 1840Herschel Ess. (1857) 76 Their labours are highly deserving of notice by reason of their having attempted to execute this task systematically. 1885Academy 6 June 397 Irritating by reason of its deficiency in organisation.
b. by reason (that), for the reason that, because. (Freq. c 1560 to 1720; now rare.)
1534Lett. Suppress. Monast. (Camden) 42 The cause of their dissent..was by reason that that article was clerely agaynst their professyon. 1537Ibid. 165, I ame myndet to let it staunde to the sprynge of the yere, by reason the days ar now so short. 1582N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. 8 b, They doe not flye, by reason they have no feathers in their wings. 1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. i. vi. §1 By reason that their Moneths must of necessity by degrees change their place. 1745P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 52 There were several Murmurings..by reason the Prize-Money was not immediately divided. 1829Landor Imag. Conv., Mary & Eliz. Wks. 1853 II. 91/2 By reason that she is adorned with every grace and virtue.
8. (Without article, and sometimes with adj., as good, great, little, small.)
a. there is (was, etc.) reason. Also with omission of verb (sometimes not clearly distinct from 14).
1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 28 You care not for me. Ros. Great reason: for past care, is still past cure. 1593― 2 Hen. VI, i. i. 155 There's reason he should be displeased at it. 1667Milton P.L. viii. 443 Whose fellowship..Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike. 1671― P.R. iv. 526 Good reason then if I [etc.]. 1849C. Brontë Shirley xviii, I have rather a leaning to the agricultural interest too; as good reason is [etc.]. 1892Law Times XCIII. 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.
b. to have reason for, or to do, something. Also ellipt. without construction (cf. 17).
1590Shakes. Mids. N. iii. i. 146 Me thinkes..you should haue little reason for that. 1597J. King On Jonas (1618) 177 Hee had reason to exclame as he did. 1605Shakes. Macb. iii. v. 2 Why how now Hecat, you looke angrily? Hec. Haue I not reason. 1663Butler Hud. i. iii. 272 Noble Orsin, th' hast Great reason to do as thou say'st. 1776Trial of Nundocomar 66/1, I have reason to remember it. I was, after the battle, flung into confinement. 1824Scott Redgauntlet ch. xviii, ‘I applaud your caution’, said Darsie. ‘You have reason’, replied his sister. 1859F. E. Paget Curate Cumberworth 353, I had good reason to hope that I was being of use at Roost.
c. to see reason (to do something).
1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. ii. 207 If he fight longer then he sees reason, Ile forswear Armes. 1740J. Clarke Educ. Youth (ed. 3) 154, I never yet saw Reason..to believe [etc.]. 1833H. Martineau Brooke Farm v. 62, I began this winter by admiring Sir Henry's benevolence..more than I saw reason to do afterwards.
d. with reason or without reason.
1601Dolman La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1618) III. 837 Yet hath not God giuen their beeing without good and iust reason. 1667Milton P.L. ii. 431 With reason hath deep silence and demurr Seis'd us. 1781Cowper Hope 316 Could he with reason murmur at his case, Himself sole author of his own disgrace? 1833H. Martineau Brooke Farm iii. 30 It is very wrong in you to make your neighbours discontented without reason.
†9. Rationale, fundamental principle, basis. Obs.
1585Greene Planetom. Wks. (Grosart) V. 19 The Egiptians..found out the reason of Diuination, increasing the Science greatly. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 181 The reason of the Latin word Hircus, is derived of Hirtus (signifying rough). 1668Moxon Mech. Dyalling 4 Geometry, and the Projecting of the Sphere..are only useful to those that would know the reason of Dyalling. 1678Gale Crt. Gentiles III. 7 The formal reason or nature of Sin consists in its being a deordination or transgression of the Divine law.
III. 10. a. That intellectual power or faculty (usually regarded as characteristic of mankind, but sometimes also attributed in a certain degree to the lower animals) which is ordinarily employed in adapting thought or action to some end; the guiding principle of the human mind in the process of thinking. (Freq. more or less personified.)
a1225Ancr. R. 272 Wummon is þe reisun, þet is, wittes skile. a1300Fall & Passion 19 in E.E.P. (1862) 13 Skil, resun, an eke miȝt he ȝef adam in his mode. c1315Shoreham Poems i. 515 Þat alle þyng his ase he seiþ Þy resoun wole þe rede. 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 62 Þan aght man..noght to be of wers condicion, Þan þe creatours withouten reson. 1362Langl. P. Pl. A. i. 52 For rihtfoliche resoun schulde rulen ou alle. 1406Hoccleve La Male Regle 105 Reson me bad..To ete and drynke in tyme attemprely. 1450–80tr. Secreta Secret. 38 Of his wijsdome and resoun he refreyneth him silff from these vicis that nature shewith in him. 1538Starkey England i. i. 4 Seyng the perfectyon of man restyth in the mynd and in the chefe and puryst parte therof, wych ys reson and intellygence. 1590Shakes. Mids. N. ii. ii. 115 The will of man is by his reason sway'd: And reason saies you are the worthier Maide. c1665Mrs. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846) 26 In matters of faith his reason always submitted to the Word of God. 1693Dryden Persius v. (1697) 478 Reason still is whisp'ring in your Ear, Where you are sure to fail, th'Attempt forbear. 1785Reid Intell. Powers 530 It is absurd to conceive that there can be any opposition between reason and common sense. 1859Dickens T. Two Cities i. ii, Some brute animals are endued with Reason. 1871Darwin Desc. Man I. ii. 46 Of all the faculties of the human mind, it will, I presume, be admitted that Reason stands at the summit.
b. So († good reason or) right reason. Now rare.
Perhaps sometimes understood as in sense 11.
a1300–c 1400 [see 13 a, 13 e, 13 g, and 14]. 1508Kennedie Flyting w. Dunbar 305 It war aganis bayth natur and gud ressoun, That Dewlbeiris bairnis were trew to God or man. 1538Starkey England ii. i. 147 Yf man wold folow euer ryght reson and the jugement therof. 1611Bible Transl. Pref. ⁋1 That the Church be sufficiently prouided for is so agreeable to good reason and conscience. 1647H. More Song of Soul ii. i. ii. xvii, The Dog, the Horse..Will all..claim their share in use of right reason. 1709Pope Ess. Crit. 212 If once right reason drives that cloud away, Truth breaks upon us with resistless day. 1809–10Coleridge Friend (1865) 27 The clue of right reason, which we are bound to follow in the communication of truth. 1887Browning Parleyings, G. B. Dodington i, Right reason being judge.
c. In the Kantian transcendental philosophy: The power (Vernunft) by which first principles are grasped a priori, as distinguished from understanding (Verstand).
1809–10Coleridge Friend (1850) I. 240 note, By the pure ‘reason’ I mean the power by which we become possessed of principles. 1827Carlyle St. Germ. Lit. Misc. (1840) I. 102 Reason, the Kantists say, is of a higher nature than Understanding; it works by more subtle methods, on higher objects.
d. In various mystic or transcendental uses: (see quots.).
1702tr. Le Clerc's Prim. Fathers 86 The Son is called Reason as well as the Paternal Reason. Ibid. 87 Cerinthus held the Preexistence of the Reason which he called the Christ. 1841Penny Cycl. 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. 1870Emerson Soc. & Solit., Art Wks. (Bohn) III. 20 There is but one Reason. The mind that made the world is not one mind, but the mind. 1874Sidgwick Meth. Ethics iii. xiii. 362 This absolute end..can be nothing but Reason itself, or the Universe of Rationals.
e. the age of reason, (a) (freq. with capital initials) the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Western Europe, during which cultural life was characterized by faith in human reason; the Enlightenment (cf. enlightenment 2); (b) R.C. Ch., the age at which a child is capable of discerning right from wrong and can be held responsible for his or her actions; also loosely.
(a)1794T. Paine (title) The age of reason; being an investigation of true and fabulous theology. 1902Chesterton Twelve Types 129 Carlyle..denied every one of the postulates upon which the age of reason based itself. 1926R. H. Tawney Relig. & Rise of Capitalism i. 61 The sanguine optimists of the Age of Reason. 1971R. J. White Second-Hand Tomb xviii. 200 You medieval scholars suffer from a double dose of spiritual pride where the Age of Reason is concerned.
(b)1884Addis & Arnold Cath. Dict. 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. 1947E. Sutton tr. Sartre's Age of Reason viii. 126 You have..reached the age of reason, my poor Mathieu{ddd}but you try to dodge that fact too, you try to pretend you're younger than you are. Ibid. xviii. 360 He yawned again as he repeated to himself: ‘It's true, it's absolutely true: I have attained the age of reason.’ 1955tr. Maupassant's Compl. Short Stories 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. 1974Oxf. Dict. Chr. Ch. (ed. 2) 24/1 The attainment of the age of reason is commonly marked by a child's First Communion.
11. a. The ordinary thinking faculty of the human mind in a sound condition; sanity.
c1380Wyclif De Ecclesia Sel. Wks. III. 342 Þat man is out of resoun þat trowiþ þat Clement in Petris tyme was more þan Joon evaungelist. 1602Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 214 A happinesse, That often Madnesse hits on, which Reason and Sanitie could not so prosperously be deliuer'd of. 1611Bible Dan. iv. 36 At the same time my reason returned vnto me. 1765Blackstone Comm. I. xiv. 351 A fourth incapacity is want of reason. 1818Shelley Rev. Islam vii. xxv, So now my reason was restored to me. 1863Spectator 25 July 2295 We are fully convinced that any attempt to show Hamlet's reason to be shaken is utterly hopeless.
b. A reasonable or sensible view of a matter; chiefly in phr. to bring to reason.
a1300Cursor M. 12759 To here of his sermon Þat maniman broght to resun. 1525Ld. Berners Froiss. II. ccii. 621 The kyng..commaunded me..to gouerne and bringe them to reason. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 150 b, Whiche thynges if he deny to dooe, then the confederates certifie hym, that thei shall neuer cease till he be brought to reason. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. iv. §279 He would sit still till they who were over-active would come to reason. 1703Farquhar Inconstant Dram. Pers., Oriana..would bring him to reason. 1870Burton Hist. Scot. VI. lxvi. 332 They had failed to bring a recusant clergyman to reason.
12. In verbal phrases denoting the conformity of something to the dictates of reason:
†a. reason will or reason would. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 11663 ‘Ioseph’, sco said, ‘fain wald i rest’..‘Gladli’, said he, ‘þat wil resun’. 1377Langl. P. Pl. B. x. 112 Whi shulde we [etc.]?..resoun wolde it neuere. 1423Rolls of Parlt. IV. 257/2 Hit semeth resoun wolde he shuld have the disavaille therof, and not the Marchant. 1433Ibid. 424/2 To be as reson will, Chief þereof. 1526Tindale Acts xviii. 14 Yf it were a matter of wronge,..reason wolde that I shuld heare you. [So Coverdale & 1611.] 1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. i. 157 Our Cause [is] the best; Then Reason will, our hearts should be as good.
b. it stands († with or) to reason.
1528Paynel Salerne's Regim. 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. 1612Shelton Quix. i. 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. 1632Holland Cyrupædia 149 It standeth to good reason, that they who repose mutuall trust one in another, will joyntly sticke to it. 1698C. Boyle, etc. Ep. Phalaris Exam. 137 It stands to reason, that he thought the Expression common enough; or else he would not have us'd it. 1873Black Pr. Thule xxiv, 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.
13. In prepositional phrases (chiefly Obs.), denoting agreement with, or opposition to, what reason directs or indicates:
†a. by reason (= OF. par raison). Also rarely by good (or right) reason, by no reason. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 14742 Mi hus agh be, [be] right resun Hus o praier and of orisoun. 13..K. Alis. 3937 The kyng..n'olde him sle, bote by resoun. c1400Mandeville (1839) x. 120 Seynt Petre the Apostle, and thei that camen aftre him, han ordeynd to make here Confessioun to man; and be gode Resoun: for [etc.]. a1425Cursor M. 10535 (Trin.) Shal no mon bi no resoun Aȝeyn hir haue no wicke chesoun. a1450Knt. de la Tour (1868) 53 Thei that seethe the good and takithe the evelle, by reson they shulle repent hem. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xviii. 26 He delyuered them sufficient by reason, to pay all their small charges. 1563Mirr. Mag., Collingbourne 145 b, The gylty alwayes are suspicious, And dread the ruyne that must sewe by reason.
b. in reason. Also in all or any reason; † upon reason.
a1400–50Alexander 1670 Aske it at Alexander quat þou will apon reson, And I sall grant. 1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. ii. 53 Keeping such vild company as thou art, hath in reason taken from me, all ostentation of sorrow. 1598― Merry W. i. i. 249 In any reason. 1603― Meas. for M. iii. i. 250 In all reason. 1650T. B[ayley] Worcester's Apoph. 97 The Law could not in reason take notice of any such thing. 1678Bunyan Pilgr. i. (1862) 68 Had he had a thousand souls, they had in reason been cast away. 1712Budgell Spect. No. 277 ⁋12, I am willing to do anything in reason for the Service of my Country-women. 1823Keble Serm. iii. (1848) 65 To..consider fairly, what effect, in all reason, their believing it ought to have on themselves. 1898G. B. Shaw Plays I. (Unpleasant) 186 If you want a cheque for yourself..you can name any figure you like—in reason.
†c. of reason. Also with all, good. Obs.
1413Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) iv. xxx. 78 They shall..brynge hit in to good couenable fourme as to suche a lord bilongeth of reson. 1449in Wars Eng. in France (Rolls) I. 493 Purveaunce shalbe made for you in such wise as of reasone ye shal holde you wel contente. 1523Fitzherb. Husb. §12 In some places they sowe bothe pees and beanes vnderforowe: and those of reson must be sowen betyme. 1533Bellenden tr. Livy v. ii, May it nocht be said to him of gude resoun: ‘Thow has ȝerelie wagis, suffir þareof ȝerelie laubouris?’ 1664H. More Antid. Idolatry ix. 103 The Council of Trent..must of all reason be conceived to mean these very Circumstances.
†d. out of reason. Obs.
c1400Destr. Troy 2222 We may boldy vs byld with bostis out of Reason. 1480Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxix. 209 Mortimer disgised him with wonder riche clothes out of al maner reson. 1576Fleming Panopl. Epist. 385 You sell the same..to your Brother too deere and out of reason.
†e. through (good or right) reason. Obs.
13..Sir Beues (MS. A.) 48 Man, whan he falleþ in to elde, Feble a wexeþ..Þourȝ riȝt resoun. c1325Chron. Eng. 842 in Ritson Metr. Rom. II. 305 And so thourh god resoun He yeld hem heore tresoun. c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 3628 After Belyn, Gurgoint his sone Hadde þe heritage þorow resone.
† f. with (or to) reason. Also with no. Obs.
c1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 44/359 Seint Ieme ne miȝhte habbe þe soule..with no resun ne riȝhte. a1300Cursor M. 14705 Þe werckes þat i werc in his nam, Quat man þan mai wit resun blam. c1330Amis & Amil. 874 Then seyd thai al with resoun, Sir Amis schuld ben in prisoun. 14..Sir Beues (MS. M.) 179 Syr Guy answered hym with reason And sayd: ‘Alas, for here is treason!’ c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon vii. 159 As ye knowe, I wolde be reformed with rayson to the sayenge of his barons. 1556Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer Epist. A iij b, Because you may see him confirme with reason the Courtly facions. 1615T. Adams White Devill 37 These ride in the open streetes, whiles the other lurke in close woods—and to reason, for [etc.].
†g. without (right) reason. Obs.
a1300Cursor M. 16296 Qui smites þou me wit-vten right resun. c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 150 Men mad tille him grete mone, it was without reson. 1390Gower Conf. III. 42 Delicacie in loves cas Withoute reson is and was. 1484Caxton Life of æsop 2 b, He..went in without rayson and hath eten al the fygges. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 629 This multitude..spoyled, robbed and rifled, without reason or measure.
14. a. A matter, act, proceeding, etc., agreeable to reason; in phrases it is reason or reason is (also with good, great), it is no (or not) reason, to think (it) reason, etc. Freq. c 1400–1650; now rare.
So OF. il est raison, c'est (bien) raison, c'est raison et droit, etc.
c1320Cast. Love 1096 ‘Þat is skile’, quaþ Jhesu, ‘and good reson’. 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 6891 Þarfor it es reson and ryght, Þat þai ay se þat grysely syght. 1423Rolls of Parlt. IV. 257 Hit is no reson that the Maister take his worship of another mannes harme. 1454Ibid. V. 248/1 In suche wyse as it can be thought reason unto our Tresorer. 1523Ld. Berners Froiss. I. 348 It is reason that it shulde so be. a1533― Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. D d vi, Reason is, that I succour thy povertee with moneie. 1577B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. i. (1586) 25 b, It is good reason to sowe timely in wette groundes. 1625Bacon Ess., Marriage (Arb.) 264 It were great Reason, that those that haue Children, should haue greatest care of future times. 1676Hobbes Iliad i. 129, I thought it reason th' Argives should collect. 1686tr. Chardin's Coronat. Solyman 100 It was not reason to punish the innocent with the Guilty. 1809Malkin Gil Blas vi. ii. ⁋2 It is but reason that you should distrust our purity. 1818T. L. Peacock Nightmare Abbey iv, ‘Do you know, sir, that Marionetta has no fortune?’ ‘It is the more reason, sir, that her husband should have one’. 1864Manning Let. to Pusey 28 It is, however, but reason that I should rejoice.
†b. In parenthetic phrases, as reason is (or was), as (it) is reason, etc. Obs.
c1386Chaucer Prol. 847 Telle he moste his tale as was reson, By foreward and by Composicion. 1535Coverdale Baruch ii. 6 We with oure fathers (as reason is) are brought to open shame. 1596Danett tr. Comines (1614) 198 To which his commandement I obeyed as reason was. 1604E. G[rimstone] D'Acosta's Hist. Indies i. xxii. 74 If we shall give that respect to the authoritie of Plato (as it is reason), we must [etc.]. 1671Milton Samson 1641 What your commands impos'd I have perform'd, as reason was, obeying.
†c. and reason, placed after a statement. Obs.
1563J. Man Musculus Commonpl. 279 They do sufficiently confesse..that the sacrament is not the very grace itselfe, and reason. c1592Marlowe Jew of Malta iv. i, Barabas. I'd cut thy throat, if I did. Ithamore. And reason too. 1671Milton P.R. iii. 122 To whom our Saviour fervently reply'd. ‘And reason; since his word all things produc'd’.
†d. Similarly and good reason, and (rarely as) reason good. Obs. (Cf. 8 a.)
1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. ii. 171 Wee'l haue the Lord Sayes head... Cade. And good reason. 1657W. Rand tr. Gassendi's Life Peiresc i. 75 He wrote most frequently (and good reason) to his Father and Uncle. 1714Mrs. Manley Adv. Rivella 60 Lord Crafty, as Reason good, immediately assumed the Management of his Lady's Affairs. 1757E. Griffith Lett. Henry & Frances (1767) I. 115 True love..never attacks us but once, and reason good, because it lasts us for life.
†15.
a. That treatment which may with reason be expected by, or required from, a person; justice; satisfaction; chiefly in phr. to do (one) reason (tr. F. faire raison). Obs.
c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxi. 141 Þai do resoun and trewth till ilke man, als wele to pouer as to riche. c1420Anturs of Arth. xxviii, Welecome, worthyly wyghte! Thou sall hafe resone and ryghte. c1477Caxton Jason 72 b, To holde them in pees reson and justice. a1533Ld. Berners Huon x. 30, I shal do hym reason yf it be founde that I haue done any wronge. 1588Shakes. Tit. A. i. ii. 278, I..[am] resolu'd withall To doe my selfe this reason, and this right. 1638R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1841) I. 94 If they gett reason, it is thought they are both undone. Ibid. 132 The Thesaurer..required that his Grace would see justice done upon him... The Commissioner promised him reason. 1651tr. De-las-Coveras' Don Fenise 301 The more I endeavoured by faire meanes to oblige him to doe me reason, the more I excited him to derision.
b. With reference to drinking. Obs. exc. arch.
1594Plat Jewell-ho. iii. 62 Quaffing companions..wil require reason at their hands as they terme it. 1663Dryden Wild Gallant i. i, First I'll drink to you, Sir; upon my faith I'll do you reason, Sir. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. 279 After..every one's Health has reason done it, they take off the Table-Cloth. 1819Scott Ivanhoe xlii, I pray you..to do me reason in a cup of wine. 1826― Woodst. xix, Nor was his follower slow in doing reason to the royal pledge.
†c. Satisfaction by a duel. Obs.—1
1619in Crt. & Times Jas. I (1849) 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.
†16.
a. A reasonable quantity, amount, or degree. Also spec. the measure by which a miller took his toll. Obs.
1426Lydg. De Guil. Pilgr. 10614 As touchyng off the melle, Thow myghtest ther..be-holden A mesure Wych (by folkys oppynyoun,) Bereth the name off ‘Resoun’. c1430Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. xv. (1869) 80 At the mille perauenture ye haue seen a mesure that is cleped resoun. Ibid. iii. xvii. 144 Millewardes also that filleth here resoun, with oute clepinge of resoun. 1591Spenser M. Hubberd 887 In case his paines were recompenst with reason. 1598R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. vi. vi. (1622) 130 Agrippina not contented with reason, and greedy of rule. 1599Shakes. Much Ado v. iv. 74 Bene. Doo not you loue me? Beat. Why no, no more than reason. 1675Earl Essex [A. Capel] Lett. (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.
†b. Moderation. Obs.—1
1615Latham Falconry (1633) 93 When she hath cast them againe, giue her her breakefast of good meat, with reason in the quantity.
†17. to have reason (tr. F. avoir raison): to be right (esp. in making a statement). Obs. (Cf. 8 b.)
1557North Gueuara's Diall Pr. i. x. (1568) 13 b, This if they had demaunded of the true God, they should haue had reason. 1594Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits 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. 1624Bedell Lett. vi. 95 The King him⁓selfe said aloud, that both sides had reason. 1667Dryden & Dk. Newcastle Sir M. Mar-all iii. i, Sir Mart. You have reason, sir. Mood. There he is again too; the town phrase. 1704Swift Mech. Operat. Spir. Misc. (1711) 285 The Objectors have Reason, and their Assertions may be allowed. 1771Junius Lett. xliii. (1804) II. 181 Louis XIV had reason when he said ‘the Pyrenees are removed’.
18. a. The fact or quality of being agreeable to the reason; such a († procedure or) view of things as the reason can approve of.
c1470Golagros & Gaw. 331 Ressaue him reuerendly, as resoun in lyis. 1599Shakes. Hen. V, v. ii. 358 Wee haue consented to all tearmes of reason. 1601― Jul. C. iii. ii. 113 Me thinkes there is much reason in his sayings. 1653Walton Angler ii. 47 This is reason put into Verse, and worthy the consideration of a wise man. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 738 His perswasive words, impregn'd With Reason, to her seeming, and with Truth. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. ii. §4 There is reason in what you say. 1819Shelley Cenci ii. ii. 17 Nay, there is reason in your plea; 'twere hard. 1880T. Hardy Wessex Tales, Fellow-Townsmen iii. (1896) 124 There was reason in Mrs. Downe's fear—that he owned.
b. In phrases to hear reason, listen to reason, or speak reason.
1535Stewart Cron. Scot. I. 596 For na counsall that tyme wald he heir ressoun. 1545Elyot s.v. Ius, Ius dicis, thou speakest reason. 1599Shakes. Much Ado i. iii. 5 You should heare reason. Ibid. v. i. 41 There thou speak'st reason. 1664J. Wilson A. Commenius v. iii, Troth he speaks reason. 1719De Foe Crusoe ii. iii, The rogues were now more capable to hear reason than to act reason. 1768Goldsm. Good-n. Man i, When I'm determined I always listen to reason, because it can then do no harm. 1832H. Martineau Hill & Valley vi. 101 The people were now in a condition to hear reason. 1880T. Hardy Wessex Tales, Fellow-Townsmen iii. (1896) 124 Her impression is that your wife will listen to reason.
IV.
†19. The exercise of reason; the act of reasoning or argumentation. Obs.
c1330King of Tars 276 The doughter dude overcome hem bothe Beo riht reson and evene. c1440York Myst. xxxvii. 255, I schall þe proue be right resoune. 1542Recorde Gr. Artes (1575) 8 Reson is the expressing of a iust matter with witty persuasions, furnished with lerned knowledge. 1565Jewel Repl. Harding (1611) 361 Wee may not argue by reason in this sort [etc.]. 1620T. Granger Div. Logike 8 That part of euery proposition that goeth afore in reason, howsoeuer the words be placed, is the Theme there handled. 1647H. More Poems Interpr. Gen. 433, I understand by Reason, the deduction of one thing from another.
†20. Consideration, regard, respect. Obs.
c1385Chaucer L.G.W. 728 Thisbe, And certeyn as by reson of hir age Ther myght haue ben bitwixe hem mariage. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. liii. (Bodl. MS.), Amptes..take grete charge of heyr comyn profite and haue þereof reson and mynde. 1533Bellenden tr. Livy iii. xxiv, More respect suld haue bene had to ressoun of þe senatouris þan to ony ressoun of þare vassalege or meritis.
†21.
a. Way, manner, method; spec. the method of a science. Obs.
c1380Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 15 Ȝif men avysiden hem on þis resoun, noone shulde juge bi mannis lawe. 1530Palsgr. 889 And by lyke reason forme they tintouin, chariuaris, and suche lyke. 1551Recorde Pathw. Knowl. Argts., The fourth booke teacheth the right order of measuringe all platte formes, and bodies also, by reson Geometricall. 1643in Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. §353 We cannot believe the intermixture of the present ecclesiastical government with the civil state to be other than a very good reason.
†b. Possibility of action or occurrence. Const. but. Obs. rare.
1591Shakes. Two Gent. ii. iv. 212 When I looke on her perfections, There is no reason, but I shall be blinde. c1592Marlowe Jew of Malta v. ii, Since things are in thy power, I see no reason but of Malta's Wrack. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. ii. i. 409, I see no reason but suppos'd Lucentio Must get a father.
†22. Math. = ratio n. 2. Obs.
c1374Chaucer Boeth. ii. pr. vii. 44 (Camb. MS.) Al the enuyronynge of the erthe abowte ne halt but the resoun of a prikke at regard of the gretnesse of heuene. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 86 If it be yn tokenynge ffleumetyke, a lityll [medicine] after þe qualyte & resoun of þe tokenynge. 1570Billingsley Euclid xi. def. i. 312 There are..three reasons or meanes of measuring, which are called commonly dimensions. 1587Golding De Mornay xiv. 212 There is the same reason in the proportion of eight vnto six that is of fower vnto three. 1614T. Bedwell Nat. Geom. Numbers i. 8 Like-plaines haue a doubled reason of their correspondent sides. 1678Cocker Arithm. vi. 60 A third [number], which shall have such reason to the one, as the other hath to unite. 1713Berkeley Hylas & Phil. iii. Wks. 1871 I. 337 The moments or quantities of motion in bodies are in a direct compounded reason of the velocities and quantities of Matter contained in them.
V.
23. attrib. and Comb. (chiefly objective and obj. gen.), as reason-monger, reason-plating (after armour-plating), reason-poisoning, reason-renderer, reason-scanner, reason-worship; reason-contained, reason-derived, reason-giving, reason-proof, reason-wrought adjs.; reason-ring, a ring bearing a ‘reason’ or motto.
1973Art Internat. Mar. 75/2 The frost of the passage, its chill, *reason-contained fire is even more remarkable.
1874W. Wallace Hegel's Logic §36. 61 A *reason-derived knowledge of God is the highest problem of philosophy.
1855Bagehot in Nat. Rev. July 36 The strong analytic, comprehensive, *reason-giving powers..were utterly foreign to his mind.
1933Dell & Baynes tr. Jung's Mod. Man in Search of Soul 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.
1870Spectator 24 Dec. 1536/1 If his heavy artillery could not penetrate the thick *reason-plating of the states⁓men, it was passion-proof.
1888F. M. Crawford With the Immortals I. 69 Doctor Saul Ascher, who died an abstract death from *reason-poisoning.
1829Westm. Rev. Oct. 442 A man who on this topic..is pretty nearly *reason proof.
1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie iii. xix. (Arb.) 236 This assignation of cause the Greekes called Etiologia... We also call him the *reason-rendrer.
1877W. Jones Finger-ring 416 Among the motto or ‘*reason’ rings, as they were termed, is an example..found in 1823, at Thetford.
1591Sylvester Du Bartas i. iii. 970 *Reason-scanners have resolved all, That heavie things, hang'd in the Aire must fall.
1893G. A. Denison in Ch. Times 24 Mar. 325 *Reason-worship, the parent of all heresies.
1906Hardy Dynasts ii. i. ii. 152 Here, then, ends My hope for Europe's *reason-wrought repose!
▪ II. reason, n.2|ˈriːz(ə)n|
Forms: 6 resun, 7 resen, 8 reson, dial. rezen, 7– reason.
[var. rasen, q.v.]
= raising-piece. Also attrib. with piece.
a1548[see raising-piece]. 1611Cotgr., Architrave,..the reason peece, or master beame (in buildings of timber). 1674–91[see rasen]. 1703T. N. City & C. Purchaser 183 Betwixt them and the Sell, or Reson. 1736Pegge Kenticisms (E.D.S.), Rezen, the raising; 'tis much the same as the wall-plate. 1875Knight Dict. Mech. 1899/1 Reason⁓piece, a timber which lies under the beams on the brick or timber in the side of a house.
▪ III. reason, v.|ˈriːz(ə)n|
Forms: 4 resun, 5 resoune, 5–7 reson, 6 rai-, rayson, reazon, Sc. resson, 5– reason.
[ad. OF. raisoner (F. raisonner):—late L. ratiōnāre to discourse, f. ratiōn-em: see reason n.1 In sense 1 perh. aphet. for areason.]
†1. trans. To question (a person); to call (one) to account. = areason v. Obs. rare.
13..Cursor M. 8676 (Gött.), I knew wel.. Of þis tresun scho had me don. I hir resuned þan al-sua son. c1430Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 2809 Generides thoo he [Anazaree] gan reason Whi the Sowdon did him in prison. a1578Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 33 Quhen he had pansit in this maner wp and doun and ressonit himself for his slouthfulnes.
2.
†a. intr. To hold argument, discussion, discourse or talk with another. Obs.
The precise sense depends greatly on the context.
1483Caxton G. de la Tour L vj, Yf one begynne to resoune and talke with yow of suche mater, lete hym alone. c1489― Sonnes of Aymon i. 32 Thenne he resoned wyth his prynces and barons. 1530Palsgr. 680/1 By that time that I have reasonned a lytell with hym I shall soone fele his mynde. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 127 He sent for the Maior and Shirifes of London, with whome he reasoned greuously for the escape of one called John Gate. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. ii. viii. 27, I reason'd with a Frenchman yesterday, who told me [etc.]. 1611Bible 1 Sam. xii. 7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord. 1671Milton P.R. iv. 233 How wilt thou reason with them, how refute Thir Idolisms, Traditions, Paradoxes?
†b. (Without const.) To argue, discourse, converse, talk. Obs.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 99 Glotony commeth in full subtylly, & reasoneth full craftely, sayenge [etc.]. 1551Robinson tr. More's Utop. ii. (1895) 271 That no man shalbe blamed for reasonynge in the mayntenaunce of his owne religion. 1594Shakes. Rich. III, iv. iv. 537 Away towards Salsbury, while we reason here, A Royall battell might be wonne and lost. 1611Bible Matt. xvi. 7 And they reasoned among themselues, saying, It is because we haue taken no bread.
†c. Const. about, against, of, on (a matter). Obs.
1551Robinson tr. More's Utop. ii. (1895) 270 He, as sone as he was baptised, began..to reason of Christes religion. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. i. i. 95 How well hee's read, to reason against reading. 1599― Hen. V, iii. vii. 38 My Horse..'tis a subiect for a Soueraigne to reason on. 1667Milton P.L. ii. 558 Others apart sat on a Hill retir'd,..and reason'd high Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate.
d. To employ reasoning or argument with a person, in order to influence his conduct or opinions.
1847Marryat Childr. N. Forest iv, All he could do was..to reason with him. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 72 Mankind must be reasoned with before they are punished.
3. a. intr. To think in a connected, sensible, or logical manner; to employ the faculty of reason in forming conclusions (in general, or in a particular instance).
In early use not clearly distinguished from 2 b.
1593Shakes. Rich. II, i. iii. 277 [Q. 1] Teach thy necessity to reason thus,—There is no vertue like necessity. 1620T. Granger Div. Logike 2 God doth not reason, or discourse. 1651Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxix. 168 Kings deny themselves some such necessary Power..: wherein they reason not well. 1667Milton P.L. ix. 765 Hee hath eat'n and lives, And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discernes, Irrational till then. 1713Addison Cato v. i, It must be so—Plato, thou reason'st well. 1782Cowper Doves i, Reasoning at every step he treads, Man yet mistakes his way. 1810Crabbe Borough xix, Temptation came; I reason'd, and I fell. 1846Ruskin Mod. Paint. II. iii. i. xiv. §5 Though we cannot, while we feel deeply, reason shrewdly.
b. Const. from (premises or data); about, of, upon (a subject).
1651Hobbes Leviath. iii. xlii. 280 By Reasoning from the already received Scripture. 1695Blackmore Pr. Arth. i. 398 He reason'd deep of Heav'ns mysterious Ends. 1785Paley Mor. Philos. i. vii, To reason about his duty. 1812Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. 3 If the phenomena are reasoned upon,..the enquirer is guided by analogy. 1822Shelley Faust ii. 341 Oh! He is far above us all in his conceit: Whilst we enjoy, he reasons of enjoyment. 1844H. H. Wilson Brit. India ii. xi. II. 489 Reasoning from experience of the past abuses..they anticipated a like result from the present.
4. With object-clause:
a. To question, discuss what, why, etc.
1529Brightwell [Frith] Ep. to Christian Rdr. 111 b, If thou woldist reason why God doth thus. 1594Shakes. Rich. III, i. iv. 94, I will not reason what is meant heereby, Because I will be guiltlesse from the meaning. 1596― 1 Hen. IV, ii. iii. 107, I must not haue you henceforth, question me, Whether I go: nor reason where-about. 1855Tennyson Charge Light Brigade 14 Their's not to reason why. 1864–8Browning J. Lee's Wife iv. i, I will be quiet and talk with you, And reason why you are wrong.
b. To argue, conclude, infer that, etc.
1527R. Thorne in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 257, I reason, that as some sicknesses are hereditarious,..so this inclination or desire of this discouerie I inherited of my father. 1727Pope & Gay What passed in London Swift's Wks. 1751 VI. 262 She reasoning, that it would be time enough..after the Comet had made its appearance.
c. To say by way of argument. nonce-use.
1840Dickens Barn. Rudge i, ‘What have I done’, reasoned poor Joe.
5. trans.
a. To discuss or argue (a matter). Now rare.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 187 b, They wyll reason y⊇ mysteryes of our fayth, whiche be aboue reason. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 175 b, Ther should be chosen two divines to reason the matter. 1625Burges Pers. Tithes 26 Thence a tender conscience may iustly thus reason the case. 1660Trial Regic. 116 [He] was pleased to do me, and several other Gentlemen..the favour to reason the Law with us. 1802M. Edgeworth Moral T. (1816) I. 205, I am in no humour to reason that point.
b. To explain, support, infer, deal with, by (or as by) reasoning. nonce-uses.
1605Shakes. Lear i. ii. 114 Though the wisedome of Nature can reason it thus, and thus, yet Nature finds it selfe scourg'd by the sequent effects. 1607― Cor. v. iii. 176 This Boy, that cannot tell what he would haue, Doe's reason our Petition with more strength, Than thou hast to deny't. 1732Pope Ess. Man i. 18 Say first, of God above, or Man below, What can we reason, but from what we know? 1821Shelley Prometh. Unb. iii. iv. 22 It saw much, Yet idly reasoned what it saw.
6. a. To bring (a person) into, out of (a state of mind, etc.) by reasoning.
1599Shakes. Hen. V, v. ii. 165 These fellowes of infinit tongue, that can ryme themselues into Ladyes fauours, they doe alwayes reason themselues out again. 1653H. More Conject. Cabbal. 233 Men commonly reason themselves into an allowance of sin, by pretending humane infirmities or natural frailties. 1749Fielding Tom Jones xv. ii, You know us better than to talk of reasoning a woman out of her inclinations. 1785Paley Mor. Philos. 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. 1893W. Forbes-Mitchell Remin. Gt. Mutiny 289 David tried to reason him out of his fears.
b. To put down by reasoning.
1686Goad Celest. Bodies ii. i. 155 This..is the grand popular objection, which Cries, not reasons us down. 1713Addison Cato i. i, Love is not to be reason'd down, or lost In high ambition. 1900Outrageous Fortune x. 117 There is little need now to recapitulate those arguments with which I reasoned down the dictates of my better nature.
c. To drive away or off by reasoning.
1839E. A. Poe in Burton's Gentleman's Mag. (Philadelphia) Sept. 150, I struggled to reason off the nervousness which had dominion over me. 1854M. L. Charlesworth Ministering Children ix. 139 Let the sinner then beware how he reasons away and rejects the awful Word of God. 1866M. C. Harris Christine xiv. 74 It was very natural, the doctor said to himself, trying to reason away the pain he felt.
7. To think out, to arrange the thought of, in a logical manner.
1736Butler Anal. i. vi. Wks. 1874 I. 124 There is no hint or intimation in history, that this system was first reasoned out. 1851Thackeray Eng. Hum., Swift (1858) 34 They are reasoned logically enough. 1874Carpenter Ment. Phys. i. ix. (1879) 414 By thus reasoning-out the probable consequences of an action, motives..may lose more or less of their force.
8. To provide with reason; to accompany with a reason. nonce-uses.
1562J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 161 Which..Shewth thy nose better sesond than thy hed resond. 1796Burke Reg. Peace i. Wks. 1826 VIII. 129 This offer so reasoned plainly implies, that [etc.].
▪ IV. reason
obs. form of raisin. |