reason

reason · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*h₂reh₁-“to think”
2. Latin · derived fromratiō
3. Old French · derived fromraison
4. Anglo-Norman · derived fromraisun
5. Middle English · inherited fromresoun
6. English todayreason

From Middle English resoun, reson, from Anglo-Norman raisun (Old French raison), from Latin ratiō, from ratus, past participle of reor (“reckon”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂reh₁- (“to think”), reanalysed root of *h₂er- (“to put together”). Displaced Old English racu (“logic, reason”) and native Middle English reden (found in compounds), from Old English rǣden (“condition, stipulation, calculation, direction”), from the same Proto-Indo-European source (compare West Frisian reden (“reason”), Dutch reden (“reason”)). Doublet of ration and ratio.

reason · noun²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*h₁erh₁-“to rest”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*razną“house, dwelling”
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*raʀn“house”
4. Old English · inherited fromræsn“beam, rafter, ceiling, wall panel”
5. Middle English · inherited fromreason
6. English todayreason

From Middle English reason, reson, resen, rasen, from Old English ræsn (“beam, rafter, ceiling, wall panel”), probably from Proto-West Germanic *raʀn (“house”), from Proto-Germanic *razną (“house, dwelling”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁erh₁- (“to rest”).

Words from the same roots