Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “reason” come from?

Reason comes from Middle English resoun, from Anglo-Norman raisun, from Latin ratio meaning "calculation" or "reckoning," derived from the root of Latin reor meaning "to think" or "to believe."

reason (English): A cause; Rational thinking ; the cognitive...

Definitions

  1. A cause; Rational thinking ; the cognitive...

Ancestry of “reason”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishresounresound; reason
2Anglo-NormanraisunAlternative form of reson
3Old Frenchresonlogic, logical reasoning
4Latinratiō—
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “reason”

  • reasoning
  • unreasonable
  • unreasonably
  • unreasoning
  • reasoner
  • unreason
  • unreasonableness
  • reasonless
  • unreasoningly
  • reasonest
  • reasoneth
  • reasonlessly
  • nonreasoning
  • metareasoning
  • nonreason
  • outreason
  • twi-reason
  • have reason
  • reasonist
  • reasonous
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →