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ratiocinate ra-shee-AW-sen-ayt verb to reason through something methodically; to think methodically 1858Edward Bulwer-LyttonWhat Will He Do With ItThe Cobbler put the forefinger of the right hand on the forefinger of the left; it is the gesture of a man about to ratiocinate or demonstrate, as Quintilian, in his remarks on the oratory of fingers, probably observes; or if he has failed to do so, it is a blot in his essay.1886Hiram CorsonAn Introduction to the Study of Browning's PoetrySome speaker is made to reveal his character, and, sometimes, by reflection, or directly, the character of some one else—to set forth some subtle and complex soul-mood, some supreme, all-determining movement or experience of a life; or, it may be, to ratiocinate subtly on some curious question of theology, morals, philosophy, or art.1925Sinclair LewisMartin ArrowsmithWell, Leory, I suppose you and Martykins here have now ratiocinated all these questions of polo and, uh, Monte Carlo and so on.Labels: Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Hiram Corson, Sinclair Lewis
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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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protoplast PRO-tuh-plast noun a prototype; the first made of something 1781Samuel JohnsonLives of the PoetsFootnote 172: Newspapers appear to have had an earlier date than here assigned. Cleiveland, in his Character of a London Diurnal, says, 'the original sinner of this kind was Dutch; Gallo-belgicus the Protoplast, and the Modern Mercuries but Hans en kelders.' Some intelligence given by Mercurius Gallo-belgicus is mentioned in Carew's Survey of Cornwall, p. 126, originally published in 1602. These vehicles of information are often mentioned in the plays of James and Charles the first. R. See Idler, Nº. 7, and note; and Idler, Nº. 40, and note. Ed.1886Hiram CorsonAn Introduction to the Study of Browning's PoetryThose forms, unalterable first as last, proved him her copier, not the protoplast of nature: what could come of being free by action to exhibit tree for tree, bird, beast, for beast and bird, or prove earth bore one veritable man or woman more?2001Jack DannDa Vinci RisingAnd nature, the protoplast of all man's creation, had not invented rotary motion.Labels: Hiram Corson, Jack Dann, Samuel Johnson
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Entry By: CJ Cooney
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