reasonable
Meaning
Fair and sensible; based on good judgment.
Not too expensive; fairly priced.
Willing to listen to reason or to accept sensible behavior.
Structure
Usage
It's not reasonable to expect an answer immediately.
They sell good quality food at reasonable prices.
Please be reasonable; we need to find a compromise.
Etymology
The word 'reasonable' originates from the Latin 'ratiōnābilis', meaning "endowed with reason." It entered English via Old French 'raisonable'. The core Latin root 'ratiō' initially referred to a "reckoning, calculation, or account," which evolved to signify the faculty of logical thinking and justification. The suffix '-able' attaches to this root to create an adjective describing something that possesses or is characterized by reason. Thus, the literal sense of "capable of reason" broadened to encompass the modern meanings of being sensible, fair, and moderate, as these qualities are seen as products of sound reasoning.
Analysis
- reason: From Latin 'ratiōn-' (stem of 'ratiō'), meaning "reckoning, understanding, motive." Functions as the core semantic root. - able: From Latin '-ābilis', a suffix forming adjectives meaning "capable of, fit for, tending to." Functions as a derivational suffix.