Ratiocination
/ˌreɪ.ʃi.ɒ.sɪˈneɪ.ʃən/noun
The process of reasoning or logical thinking.
Did you know?Ratiocination comes from Latin ratiocinari, and the root ratio originally meant a reckoning, account, or calculation before it became tied to reason itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reh₁-
“to think, count, reckon”
Latin
Latin
reri
“to think, judge, reckon”
Latin
Latin
ratio
“a reckoning, account, calculation; later, reason”
Latin
Latin
ratiocinari
“to calculate, reason, argue”
Late Latin
Latin
ratiocinationem
“reasoning, act of reasoning”
14th Century
Middle English
ratiocinacioun
“reasoning or logical argument”
Modern English
English
ratiocination
“the process of reasoning or logical thought”