resoun

Middle English

Etymology 1

From Anglo-Norman raisun, from Old French reson, from Latin ratiō, ratiōnem.

Alternative forms

• reson, reisun, raison

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈrɛːsun/, /rɛːˈsuːn/

Noun

resoun (plural resouns)

1. reason
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prologues”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

     Er that I ferther in this tale pace,
     Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun
     To telle yow al the condicioun
     Of ech of hem, so as it semed me.

     Before I proceed further in this tale,
     It seems to me in accord with reason
     To tell you all the circumstances
     Of each of them, as it seemed to me.

Descendants

• English: reason
• → Welsh: rheswm
• Yola: raaison, raison

References

• “rē̆sǒun, n.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 2

From Old French reson; equivalent to re- +‎ soun.

Alternative forms

• reson

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /rɛːˈsuːn/

Noun

resoun (plural resouns)

1. echoing sound, reverberation

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Chaucer to this entry?)

Descendants

• English: resound

References

• “resǒun, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

References

• “resoun”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.