Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “irrational” come from?

Irrational comes from Latin irrationalis, formed from the Latin prefix ir- and suffix -alis, derived from Latin in and Proto-Indo-European ne, meaning "not."

irrational (English): Not rational; unfounded or nonsensical; Of a real...

Definitions

  1. Not rational; unfounded or nonsensical; Of a real...

Ancestry of “irrational”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinirratiōnālis—
2Latinrationalisaccounts; rational, reasonable, of or possessing...
3Latinratiō—
4Latin-tiō—
5Latindissertātiō—
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “irrational”

  • irrationality
  • irrationally
  • irrationalism
  • irrationalist
  • irrationalistic
  • irrationalness
  • irrationalize
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →