Rational \Ra"tion*al\, a. [L. rationalis: cf. F. rationnel. See
Ratio, Reason, and cf. Rationale.]
1. Relating to reason; not physical; mental.
Moral philosophy was his chiefest end; for the
rational, the natural, and mathematics . . . were
but simple pastimes in comparison of the other.
--Sir T.
North.
2. Having reason, or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with
reason or understanding; reasoning.
It is our glory and happiness to have a rational
nature. --Law.
3. Agreeable to reason; not absurd, preposterous,
extravagant, foolish, fanciful, or the like; wise;
judicious; as, rational conduct; a rational man.
4. (Chem.) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and
reactions of a compound; graphic; -- said of formul[ae].
See under Formula.
Rational horizon. (Astron.) See Horizon, 2
(b) .
Rational quantity (Alg.), one that can be expressed without
the use of a radical sign, or in extract parts of unity;
-- opposed to irrational or radical quantity.
Rational symptom (Med.), one elicited by the statements of
the patient himself and not as the result of a physical
examination.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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