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Definitions for: Rational
[adj] having its source in or being guided by the intellect (distinguished from experience or emotion); "a rational analysis"
[adj] of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind; "intellectual problems"; "the triumph of the rational over the animal side of man"
[adj] consistent with or based on or using reason; "rational behavior"; "a process of rational inference"; "rational thought"
[adj] (math) capable of being expressed as a quotient of integers; "rational numbers"
Webster (1913) Definition: Ra"tion*al, a. [L. rationalis: cf. F. rationnel. See
Ratio, Reason, and cf. Rationale.]
1. Relating to reason; not physical; mental.
Moral philosophy was his chiefest end; for the
rational, the natural, and mathematics . . . were
but simple pastimes in comparison of the other.
--Sir T.
North.
2. Having reason, or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with
reason or understanding; reasoning.
It is our glory and happiness to have a rational
nature. --Law.
3. Agreeable to reason; not absurd, preposterous,
extravagant, foolish, fanciful, or the like; wise;
judicious; as, rational conduct; a rational man.
4. (Chem.) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and
reactions of a compound; graphic; -- said of formul[ae].
See under Formula.
Rational horizon. (Astron.) See Horizon, 2
(b) .
Rational quantity (Alg.), one that can be expressed without
the use of a radical sign, or in extract parts of unity;
-- opposed to irrational or radical quantity.
Rational symptom (Med.), one elicited by the statements of
the patient himself and not as the result of a physical
examination.
Syn: Sane; sound; intelligent; reasonable; sensible; wise;
discreet; judicious.
Usage: Rational, reasonable. Rational has reference to
reason as a faculty of the mind, and is opposed to
traditional; as, a rational being, a rational state of
mind, rational views, etc. In these cases the
speculative reason is more particularly, referred to.
Reasonable has reference to the exercise of this
faculty for practical purposes, and means, governed or
directed by reason; as, reasonable prospect of
success.
What higher in her society thou find'st
Attractive, human, rational, love still.
--Milton.
A law may be reasonable in itself, although a
man does not allow it, or does not know the
reason of the lawgivers. --Swift.
Ra"tion*al, n.
A rational being. --Young.
Synonyms: coherent, demythologised, demythologized, intellectual, intelligent, logical, lucid, mental, noetic, reasonable, reasoning(a), sane, thinking(a)
Antonyms: irrational, irrational
See Also: sensible
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