The reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation.

synonym: illation.

Roget 476: reasoning ratiocination rationalism; dialectics, induction, generalization.    discussion, comment; ventilation; inquiry etc. 461.    argumentation, controversy, debate; polemics, wrangling; contention etc. 720; logomachy^†; disputation, disceptation^†; paper war.    art of reasoning, logic.    process of reasoning, train of reasoning, chain of reasoning; deduction, induction, abduction; synthesis, analysis.    argument; case, plaidoyer^†, opening; lemma, proposition, terms, premises, postulate, data, starting point, principle; inference etc. (judgment) 480.    prosyllogism^†, syllogism; enthymeme^†, sorites^†, dilemma, perilepsis^†, a priori reasoning, reductio ad absurdum, horns of a dilemma, argumentum ad hominem [Lat.], comprehensive argument; empirema^†, epagoge^†.    [person who reasons] reasoner, logician, dialectician; disputant; controversialist, controvertist^†; wrangler, arguer, debater polemic, casuist, rationalist; scientist; eristic^†.    logical sequence; good case; correct just reasoning, sound reasoning, valid reasoning, cogent reasoning, logical reasoning, forcible reasoning, persuasive reasoning, persuasory reasoning^†, consectary reasoning^†, conclusive etc. 478; subtle reasoning; force of argument, strong point, strong argument, persuasive argument.    arguments, reasons, pros and cons.    ... show more

Roget 480: result, conclusion, upshot; deduction, inference, ergotism [Med.]; illation; corollary, porism^†; moral.    estimation, valuation, appreciation, judication^†; dijudication^†, adjudication; arbitrament, arbitrement^†, arbitration; assessment, ponderation^†; valorization.    award, estimate; review, criticism, critique, notice, report.    decision, determination, judgment, finding, verdict, sentence, decree; findings of fact; findings of law; res judicata [Lat.].    plebiscite, voice, casting vote; vote etc. (choice) 609; opinion etc. (belief) 484; good judgment etc. (wisdom) 498.    judge, umpire; arbiter, arbitrator; asessor, referee.    censor, reviewer, critic; connoisseur; commentator etc. 524; inspector, inspecting officer.    twenty-twenty hindsight [judgment after the fact]; armchair general, monday morning quarterback.    ... show more

Roget 522: interpretation, definition; explanation, explication; solution, answer; rationale; plain interpretation, simple interpretation, strict interpretation; meaning etc. 516.    translation; rendering, rendition; redition^†; literal translation, free translation; key; secret; clew etc. (indication) 550; clavis^†, crib, pony, trot [U.S.].    exegesis; expounding, exposition; hermeneutics; comment, commentary; inference etc. (deduction) 480; illustration, exemplification; gloss, annotation, scholium^†, note; elucidation, dilucidation^†; eclaircissement [Fr.], mot d'enigme [Fr.].    [methods of interpreting - list] symptomatology [Med.], semiology, semeiology^†, semiotics; metoposcopy^†, physiognomy; paleography etc. (philology) 560; oneirology acception^†, acceptation, acceptance; light, reading, lection, construction, version.    equivalent, equivalent meaning etc. 516; synonym; paraphrase, metaphrase^†; convertible terms, apposition; dictionary etc. 562; polyglot.    ... show more

Dutch: afgeleid gegeven, slotsom, eindoordeel, gevolgtrekking, conclusie