Reasoner

rea·son  (rzn)

n.

1. The basis or motive for an action, decision, or conviction. See Usage Notes at because, 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·sons

v.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.

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[Middle English, from Old French raison, from Latin rati, ratin-, from ratus, past participle of rr, to consider, think; see ar- in Indo-European roots.]

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reason·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, mind, think.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

reasoner - someone who reasons logically ratiocinator analogist - someone who looks for analogies or who reasons by analogy casuist, sophist - someone whose reasoning is subtle and often specious thinker - someone who exercises the mind (usually in an effort to reach a decision)