American Dictionary of the English Language

Dictionary Search

Rational


RA'TIONAL, adjective [Latin rationalis.]

1. Having reason or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with reason; opposed to irrational; as, man is a rational being; brutes are not rational animals.

It is our glory and happiness to have a rational nature.

2. Agreeable to reason; opposed to absurd; as a rational conclusion or inference; rational conduct.

3. Agreeable to reason; not extravagant.

4. Acting in conformity to reason; wise; judicious; as a rational man.

RA'TIONAL, noun A rational being.