reason
 rea·son (rēʹzən)n.
1. The basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction. See Usage Note at because. See Usage Note at why.
2. A declaration made to explain or justify action, decision, or conviction:
inquired about her reason for leaving.
3. An underlying fact or cause that provides logical sense for a premise or occurrence:
There is reason to believe that the accused did not commit this crime.
4. The capacity for logical, rational, and analytic thought; intelligence.
5. Good judgment; sound sense.
6. A normal mental state; sanity:
He has lost his reason.
7. Logic. A premise, usually the minor premise, of an argument.v. rea·soned, rea·son·ing, rea·sonsv. intr.
1. To use the faculty of reason; think logically.
2. To talk or argue logically and persuasively.
3. Obsolete. To engage in conversation or discussion.v. tr.
1. To determine or conclude by logical thinking:
reasoned out a solution to the problem.
2. To persuade or dissuade (someone) with reasons.Idioms:by reason of
Because of.in reason
With good sense or justification; reasonably.within reason
Within the bounds of good sense or practicality.with reason
With good cause; justifiably. [Middle English, from Old French raison, from Latin ratiō, ratiōn-, from ratus, past participle of rērī, to consider, think. See ar- in Indo-European Roots.] reaʹson·er n.
Synonyms: reason, intuition, understanding, judgment
These nouns refer to the intellectual faculty by which humans seek or attain knowledge or truth. Reason is the power to think rationally and logically and to draw inferences: “Mere reason is insufficient to convince us of its [the Christian religion's] veracity” (David Hume). Intuition is perception or comprehension, as of truths or facts, without the use of the rational process: I trust my intuitions when it comes to assessing someone's character. Understanding is the faculty by which one understands, often together with the resulting comprehension: “The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding” (Louis D. Brandeis). Judgment is the ability to assess situations or circumstances and draw sound conclusions: “At twenty years of age, the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgment” (Benjamin Franklin). See also synonyms at cause See also synonyms at mind See also synonyms at think
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