Etymologically
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rationabilis

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ra.ti.oːˈnaː.bɪ.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [rat.t͡si.oˈnaː.bi.lis][1]

Forms

ratiōnābilis (neuter ratiōnābile); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from ratiō “reason” with the suffix -bilis.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Seneca, whom he dates 4 BC–65 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant having reason, rational, and agreeable to reason, reasonable.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant endowed with reason, reasonable, rational.[5] Medieval Latin used it for reasonable, and in a mystical sense spiritual.[6] British Medieval Latin used it of rational creatures and of reasoning.[7] It survives in Italian ragionevole, French raisonnable and Portuguese razoável, and through Old French it gave English reasonable about 1300.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it.[4]
  • c. 1300 – English reasonable is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Rational.[2]
  2. Reasonable.[2]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Spiritual.[6]

Word family

  • irratiōnābilis
  • ratiōnābilitās

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press