English
rational
Rational comes from Latin rationalis ‘of or belonging to reason, rational, reasonable’, from reor ‘to compute’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- ‘to fit, to fix, to put together, to slot’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂er-‘to fit, to fix, to put together, to slot’root as named
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEreor‘to compute’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEratio‘reason’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErationalis‘of or belonging to reason, rational, reasonable’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400rationel
- Englishearliest quotation 1812rational
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂er-‘to fit, to fix, to put together, to slot’root as named
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEreor‘to compute’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEratio‘reason’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErationalis‘of or belonging to reason, rational, reasonable’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400rationel
- Englishearliest quotation 1812rational
Earliest quotation: 1812, The Freethinking Christians' Magazine: V: “Prevention for the future is now almost universally allowed…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- ‘to fit, to fix, to put together, to slot’
order, art, ready, army, article, arm, artist, ordinary, alarm, armor, harmony, coordinate, arthritis, anarchy, arithmetic, articulate, coordination, subordinate, harmonic, ornament, inert, artisan, armament, adorn, harmonious, aristocratic, ornate, armadillo, ordination, rta, ordinate, articulation, harmonize, rime, ordain, ordinator, artifice, ordo, armature, ordinal, 78 more
through Latin reor ‘to compute’
rate, reasonable, irritate, ratify, 14 more
through Latin ratio ‘reason’
Another origin of rational
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEreor‘to compute’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEratiō‘reason, reasoning, explanation, ground, motive, rationality, rationale, purpose’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErationalis
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400rational
- Englishtodayrational
Today it means
adj Capable of reasoning.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- / rational