Ratiocinate: meaning, definitions and examples

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ratiocinate

 

[ ˌrætiˈoʊsɪˌneɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

thinking process

To ratiocinate means to reason or to think logically. It involves the process of forming conclusions from premises or facts using rational thought. This term is often used in philosophical discussions and can imply a methodical approach to problem-solving.

Synonyms

deduce, infer, reason, think logically

Examples of usage

  • Philosophers often ratiocinate to draw conclusions about ethics.
  • He began to ratiocinate about the possible outcomes of the decision.
  • In order to solve the puzzle, one must ratiocinate carefully.

Translations

Translations of the word "ratiocinate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 raciocinar

🇮🇳 तर्क करना

🇩🇪 nachdenken

🇮🇩 berpikir

🇺🇦 міркувати

🇵🇱 rozumować

🇯🇵 推論する

🇫🇷 raisonner

🇪🇸 razonar

🇹🇷 akıl yürütmek

🇰🇷 사고하다

🇸🇦 يستنتج

🇨🇿 uvažovat

🇸🇰 uvažovať

🇨🇳 推理

🇸🇮 razmišljati

🇮🇸 röksemd

🇰🇿 ойлану

🇬🇪 მხოლოდ აზროვნება

🇦🇿 düşünmək

🇲🇽 razonar

Etymology

The word 'ratiocinate' comes from the Latin word 'ratiocinari', which means 'to calculate, to think, to reason'. The term entered the English language in the early 19th century, first appearing in print around 1825. It was primarily used in academic and philosophical contexts, signifying a higher level of reasoning or inference. The root 'ratio' relates to rationality and logical reasoning, which is reflected in its modern usage. Today, it is often associated with formal or systematic thinking processes, distinguishing it from more emotional or heuristic forms of reasoning.