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  1. rationale love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Fundamental reasons; the basis.
  2. n. An exposition of principles or reasons.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. The rational basis or motive of something; that which accounts for or explains the existence of something; reason for being.
  2. n. A rational explanation or statement of reasons; an argumentative or theoretical account; a reasoned exposition.
  3. n. Same as rational, 2.

Wiktionary

  1. n. an explanation of the basis or fundamental reasons for something
  2. n. a justification or rationalization for something
  3. n. a liturgical vestment worn by Christian bishops of various denominations

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. An explanation or exposition of the principles of some opinion, action, hypothesis, phenomenon, or the like; also, the principles themselves.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. (law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature)

Etymologies

  1. Around 1650-1650 from the Late Latin ratiōnāle, the neuter form of ratiōnālis ("rational, possessing reason"). (Wiktionary)
  2. Late Latin ratiōnāle, from neuter of Latin ratiōnālis, rational; see rational. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

  • “He says his main rationale is that it provides justice for the victim's family.”

    Life or Death Decision

  • “Surely, 'Laughably' would be more apt given the report's rationale (I use the term rationale loosely).”

    First Read

  • “Of these, the first three have more or less been OK moving to Santa Monica (well, at least the rationale is there).”

    Archive 2005-07-01

  • “To develop so strong a brand on so conspicuously threadbare a rationale is hugely creative – revolutionary even.”

    2009 January 26 | NIGEL BEALE NOTA BENE BOOKS

  • “The rationale is that renters become home buyers when it makes economic sense to own rather than rent.”

    Renting in Ajijic

  • “It is just another rationale from the Party of NO! for doing nothing.”

    GOP lawmakers seek to halt immigration reform push

  • “My rationale is as follows - there are lots of grain fields in this area so deer can get fat.”

    The Best Big Buck "Sleeper States"

  • “The typical rationale is that grandfathering permits to the industry is the only way to win support for the regulation.”

    Matthew Yglesias » The Strange Persistence of Carbon Tax Advocates

  • “I am not sure what the rationale is for the prohibition against taking $10,000 or more out of The US without declaring it, but I have seen news reports where all money exceeding $10,000 Dollars has been seized by the federal government from people, mostly illegal immigrants, when they were leaving The US.”

    The 10,000 US Dollar Limit

  • “The underlying rationale is to create a government that is more active on behalf of the middle class.”

    The Man in the Middle

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‘rationale’ has been looked up 2530 times, added to 18 lists, and has a Scrabble score of 9.