Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unreasonable” come from?

Unreasonable comes from English reason, Latin ratiō (from the root meaning "to reckon"), combined with the suffix -able from Latin -ābilis, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European roots expressing negation and being.

unreasonable (English): Without the ability to reason; unreasoning; Not...

Definitions

  1. Without the ability to reason; unreasoning; Not...

Ancestry of “unreasonable”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishreasonA cause; Rational thinking ; the cognitive...
2Middle Englishresounresound; reason
3Anglo-NormanraisunAlternative form of reson
4Old Frenchresonlogic, logical reasoning
5Latinratiō—
6Latin-tiō—
7Latindissertātiō—
8Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
9Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
10Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
11Latincalceusshoe
12Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
13Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “unreasonable”

  • unreasonably
  • unreasonableness
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →