ratio

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈra.ti.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈrat.t͡si.o]^[1]

Forms

ratiō f (genitive ratiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is derived from ratus, the participle of reor “to reckon, think”, either directly or through an earlier *ratis “reckoning”.^[2][3][1] The verb is inherited from Proto-Italic *rē-(je/o-), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *Hreh₁-.^[2][4]

Cognate with Gothic 𐍂𐌰𐌸𐌾𐍉 (raþjō, “number, account”).^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards,^[2] whose parasite counts the soldier's victims: “you keep the reckoning right”.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense was reckoning or calculation, and financial accounts, as Plautus' “the account was settled with the banker”.^[3] From this came proportion, and the process of reasoning, as in Plautus' plans, and then a reason or explanation.^[3]

It meant the exercise of reason, as Terence's “to go mad by reason”, consideration or regard, business or concern, a plan or method, a principle or system, as Cicero's principle that holds human society together, a law of nature, and a manner or kind.^[3] English reason came from it through Old French about 1200, and ration was borrowed in 1550.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of calculation and of plans.^[3][6]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of reason.^[3][6]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a guiding principle.^[3][6]
• c. 1200 – English reason is recorded.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. Reckoning, calculation.^[3][1]
2. An account (financial).^[3][1]
3. A proportion, pro ratione: proportionately.^[3]
4. Reasoning.^[3][1]
5. A reason, explanation, ground.^[3][1]
6. A description, account.^[3]
7. Reason, rationality.^[3][1]
8. Regard, consideration.^[3][1]
9. A business, concern.^[3][1]
10. A plan, scheme.^[3][1]
11. A principle, system; a theory.^[3][1]
12. A law (of nature).^[3]
13. A structure, method, means.^[3][1]
14. A kind, quality.^[3]

Word family

• ratiōcinium
• ratiōcinor
• ratiōnābilis
• ratiōnālis
• ratiuncula
• ratiōnārium

Related words

• prōportiō
• reor
• English reason
• English ration

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes rationem habere, regard shown in actions, from respectum habere, regard in thought.^[7]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper