KJV Dictionary Definition: reason

reason

REASON, n. re'zn. L. ratio, which is from ratus, and which proves reor to be contracted from redo, redor, and all unite with rod, L. radius, &c. Gr. to say or speak, whence rhetoric. See Read.

1. That which is thought or which is alleged in words, as the ground or cause of opinion, conclusion or determination. I have reasons which I may choose not to disclose. You ask me my reasons. I freely give my reasons. The judge assigns good reasons for his opinion, reasons which justify his decision. Hence in general,

2. The cause, ground, principle or motive of any thing said or done; that which supports or justifies a determination, plan or measure.

Virtue and vice are not arbitrary things; but there is a natural and eternal reason for that goodness and virtue, and against vice and wickedness. 1Peter 3.

3. Efficient cause. He is detained by reason of sickness.

Spain in thin sown of people, partly by reason of its sterility of soil

The reason of the motion of the balance in a wheel-watch is by motion of the next wheel.

4. Final cause.

Reason, in the English language, is sometimes taken for true and clear principles; sometimes for clear and fair deductions; sometimes for the cause, particularly the final cause.

5. A faculty of the mind by which it distinguishes truth from falsehood, and good from evil, and which enables the possessor to deduce inferences from facts or from propositions.

Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul, reason's comparing balance rules the whole - That sees immediate good by present sense, reason the future and the consequence.

Reason is the director of man's will.

6. Ratiocination; the exercise of reason.

But when by reason she the truth has found -

7. Right; justice; that which is dictated or supported by reason. Every man claims to have reason on his side.

I was promised on a time to have reason for my rhyme.

8. Reasonable claim; justice.

God brings good out of evil, and therefore it were but reason we should trust God to govern his own world.

9. Rationale; just account.

This reason did the ancient fathers render, why the church was called catholic.

10. Moderation; moderate demands; claims which reason and justice admit or prescribe.

The most probable way of bringing France to reason, would be by the making an attempt on the Spanish West Indies -

In reason, in all reason, in justice; with rational ground.

When any thing is proved by as good arguments as a thing of that kind is capable of, we ought not in reason to doubt of its existence.

reasonable

RE'ASONABLE, a.

1. Having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; as a reasonable being. In this sense, rational is now generally used.

2. Governed by reason; being under the influence of reason; thinking, speaking or acting rationally or according to the dictates of reason; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men.

3. Conformable or agreeable to reason; just; rational.

By indubitable certainty, I mean that which does not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting.

A law may be reasonable in itself, though a man does not allow it.

4. Not immoderate.

Let all things be thought upon, that may with reasonable swiftness add more feathers to our wings.

5. Tolerable; being in mediocrity; moderate; as a reasonable quantity.

6. Not excessive; not unjust; as a reasonable fine; a reasonable sum in damages.

reasonableness

RE'ASONABLENESS, n.

1. The faculty of reason. In this sense, little used.

2. Agreeableness to reason; that state or quality of a thing which reason supports or justifies; as the reasonableness of our wishes, demands or expectations.

the reasonableness and excellency of charity.

3. Conformity to rational principles.

The whole frame and contexture of a watch carries in it a reasonableness - the passive impression of the reason or intellectual idea that was in the artist. Unusual.

4. Moderation; as the reasonableness of a demand.

reasonably

RE'ASONABLY, adv.

1. In a manner or degree agreeable to reason; in consistency with reason. We may reasonably suppose self interest to be the governing principle of men.

2. Moderately; in a moderate degree; not fully; in a degree reaching to mediocrity.

If we can be industry make our deaf and dumb persons reasonably perfect in the language -

reasoner

RE'ASONER, n. One who reasons or argues; as a fiar reasoner; a close reasoner; a logical reasoner.

reasoning

RE'ASONING, ppr. arguing; deducing inferences from premises; debating; discussing.

RE'ASONING, n. The act or process of exercising the faculty of reason; that act or operation of the mind by which new or unknown propositions are deduced from previous ones which are known and evident, or which are admitted or supposed for the sake of argument; argumentation; ratiocination; as fair reasoning; false reasoning; absurd reasoning; strong or weak reasoning. The reasonings of the advocate appeared to the court conclusive.

Definitions from Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.
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