reason

reason
1. noun
1)

the main reason for his decision

Syn:
cause, ground(s), basis, rationale; motive, motivation, purpose, point, aim, intention, objective, goal; explanation, justification, argument, defense, vindication, excuse, pretext
2)

postmodern voices railing against reason

Syn:
rationality, logic, logical thought, reasoning, cognition; formal ratiocination
3)

he was losing his reason

Syn:
sanity, mind, mental faculties; senses, wits; informal marbles
4)

he continues, against reason, to love her

Syn:
good sense, good judgment, common sense, wisdom, sagacity, reasonableness
2. verb
1)

a young child is unable to reason

Syn:
think rationally, think logically, use one's common sense, use one's head/brain; formal cogitate, ratiocinate
2)

Scott reasoned that Annabel might be ill

Syn:
calculate, come to the conclusion, conclude, reckon, think, judge, deduce, infer, surmise; informal figure
3)

she tried to reason with her husband

Syn:
bring around, coax, persuade, prevail on, convince, make someone see the light
••
reason is because
This construction is loose because reason implies because and vice versa. As Robert W. Burchfield, the distinguished Oxford English Dictionary lexicographer, put it: "Though often defended by modern grammarians, the type ‘the reason … is because’ (instead of ‘the reason … is that’) aches with redundancy, and is still as inadmissible in Standard English as it was when H. W. Fowler objected to it in 1926." Points of View 116 (1992). After reason is, you’ll need a noun phrase, a predicate adjective, or a clause introduced by that. The best cure for reason is because is to replace because with that — e.g.: "Marcello (Jean Reno) has one frantic mission in life: to keep anyone from dying in the small Italian village where he lives. The reason is because [read reason is that] there are only three plots left in the local cemetery and his terminally ill wife, Roseanna (Mercedes Ruehl), wishes only that she be buried next to their daughter." (Star-Ledger [Newark]; June 27, 1997.)
Variations such as reason is due to are no better — e.g.: "It's a challenge for any athlete to come back after four years of inactivity. The challenge is even greater when the reason is due to injury [read the layoff is due to injury or injury is the cause]." (Tulsa Tribune & Tulsa World; May 4, 1997.) — BG

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  • Reason — involves the ability to think, understand and draw conclusions in an abstract way, as in human thinking. The meaning of the word reason overlaps to a large extent with rationality and the adjective of reason in philosophical contexts is normally… …   Wikipedia

  • Reason — • Article discussing various definitions of the term Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Reason     Reason     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • reason — rea·son n 1: an underlying ground, justification, purpose, motive, or inducement required to provide reason s for the termination in writing 2 a: the faculty of comprehending, inferring, or distinguishing esp. in a fair and orderly way b: the… …   Law dictionary

  • Reason — Rea son (r[=e] z n), n. [OE. resoun, F. raison, fr. L. ratio (akin to Goth. ra[thorn]j[=o] number, account, gara[thorn]jan to count, G. rede speech, reden to speak), fr. reri, ratus, to reckon, believe, think. Cf. {Arraign}, {Rate}, {Ratio},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • reason — n 1 Reason, ground, argument, proof are comparable when they mean a point or series of points offered or capable of being offered in support of something questioned or disputed. Reason usually implies the need of justification, either to oneself… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Reason — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Reason Desarrollador Propellerhead Software http://www.propellerheads.se Información general …   Wikipedia Español

  • reason — ► NOUN 1) a cause, explanation, or justification. 2) good or obvious cause to do something: we have reason to celebrate. 3) the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgements logically. 4) (one s reason) one s sanity. 5) what is… …   English terms dictionary

  • reason — 1. The construction after the reason is can be with that or because: • One reason was that the Kuwaitis wouldn t give anyone a visa, except female print journalists Photography, 1991 • The reason I like the Beatles is because they remind me of… …   Modern English usage

  • reason — [rē′zən] n. [ME reisun < OFr < L ratio, a reckoning, reason: see READ1] 1. an explanation or justification of an act, idea, etc. 2. a cause or motive 3. the ability to think, form judgments, draw conclusions, etc. 4. sound thought or… …   English World dictionary

  • Reason — steht für Reason Why, Faktor eines Werbekonzepts Reason (Software), Musiksoftware Reason (Zeitschrift), US Monatszeitschrift Reason (Rapper), deutscher Rapper Reason ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Rex Reason (* 1928), US amerikanischer… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Reason — Rea son, v. t. 1. To arrange and present the reasons for or against; to examine or discuss by arguments; to debate or discuss; as, I reasoned the matter with my friend. [1913 Webster] When they are clearly discovered, well digested, and well… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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