Lewis & Short

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rătĭōcĭnātĭo, ōnis, f. [ratiocinor], a rhet. and archit. t. t.

  1. I. In rhet.
      1. 1. An exercise of the reasoning powers, calm reasoning, ratiocination (opp. impulsio, a passionate feeling, impulse; cf. argumentatio): ratiocinatio est diligens et considerata faciendi aliquid aut non faciendi excogitatio, Cic. Inv. 2, 5, 18: etiam sapientiae studiosos maxime medicos esse, si ratiocinatio hoc faceret, Cels. 1, praef. § 49.
      2. 2. A certain form of reasoning, a syllogism: ratiocinatio est oratio ex ipsā re probabile aliquid eliciens, quod expositum et per se cognitum, suā se vi et ratione confirmet, Cic. Inv. 1, 34, 57; cf.: si ex alio colligitur aliud, nec improprium nec inusitatum nomen est ratiocinationis, Quint. 8, 4, 16; Cic. Inv. 2, 50, 152; Quint. 5, 10, 6; 3, 6, 15; 5, 14, 5 al.
      3. 3. A rhet. figure, reasoning in an interrogative form: ratiocinatio est, per quam ipsi a nobis rationem poscimus, quare quidque dicamus, etc., Auct. Her. 4, 16, 23.
  2. II. In archit., theory (opp.: fabrica, practice): ratiocinatio est, quae res fabricatas solertiā ac ratione proportionis demonstrare atque explicare potest, Vitr. 1, 1, 1; 15.