reasonable English · revision 4368

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la ratio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈriː.zən.ə.bəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|resonable]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|raisonable]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) on the model of [[la|ratiōnābilis|t=rational]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) from ratio “reckoning, understanding”,^(Etymonline) from ratus, past participle of rērī “to reckon, think”,^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*reh₁-|alt=*re-|t=to reason, count]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[reason]], [[rational]] and [[ratio]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Having sound judgement, endowed with reason”: about 1300 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) the 14th century in the OED, which also has it as “not asking too much”.^(OED 1989) “Agreeable to reason, not absurd” is from before 1300.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early use it also meant rational or sane, senses now obsolete,^(Etymonline) and of living things “endowed with reason”, as in ''reasonable creature'', from about 1374.^(OED 1989) “Able to discourse, ready of speech” is from about 1369, now obsolete.^(OED 1989) The sense shifted in Middle English through “resulting from good judgement” to “not exceeding the bounds of common sense”.^(Etymonline) “Moderate in amount” is from the 14th century, and “moderate in price” from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) ''Reasonably'' is from the late 14th century as “according to reason”, and about 1500 as “fairly, tolerably”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1300 – agreeable to reason.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – having sound judgement.^(Etymonline)

+ * 14th century – moderate in amount.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1374 – ''reasonable creature''.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1500 – ''reasonably'', fairly.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1660s – moderate in price.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Able to reason; [[rational]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In accordance with [[reason]] or sound thinking: ''a reasonable explanation''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Within the bounds of common sense; [[sensible]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Not excessive or extreme; fair: ''a reasonable price''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[reasonability]]

+ * [[reasonably]]

+ * [[reasonableness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[reason]]

+ * [[unreasonable]]

+ * [[rational]]

+ * [[ratio]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}