Found 1 items, similar to Rational horizon.
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Definition: Rational horizon
Horizon
\Ho*ri"zon\, n. [F., fr. L. horizon, fr. Gr. ? (sc. ?)
the bounding line, horizon, fr. ? to bound, fr. ? boundary,
limit.]
1. The line which bounds that part of the earth's surface
visible to a spectator from a given point; the apparent
junction of the earth and sky.
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And when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this horizon. --Shak.
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All the horizon round
Invested with bright rays. --Milton.
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2. (Astron.)
(a) A plane passing through the eye of the spectator and
at right angles to the vertical at a given place; a
plane tangent to the earth's surface at that place;
called distinctively the sensible horizon.
(b) A plane parallel to the sensible horizon of a place,
and passing through the earth's center; -- called also
rational horizon or
celestial horizon.
(c) (Naut.) The unbroken line separating sky and water, as
seen by an eye at a given elevation, no land being
visible.
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3. (Geol.) The epoch or time during which a deposit was made.
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The strata all over the earth, which were formed at
the same time, are said to belong to the same
geological horizon. --Le Conte.
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4. (Painting) The chief horizontal line in a picture of any
sort, which determines in the picture the height of the
eye of the spectator; in an extended landscape, the
representation of the natural horizon corresponds with
this line.
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5. The limit of a person's range of perception, capabilities,
or experience; as, children raised in the inner city have
limited horizons.
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6. [fig.] A boundary point or line, or a time point, beyond
which new knowledge or experiences may be found; as, more
powerful computers are just over the horizon.
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Apparent horizon. See under
Apparent.
Artificial horizon, a level mirror, as the surface of
mercury in a shallow vessel, or a plane reflector adjusted
to the true level artificially; -- used chiefly with the
sextant for observing the double altitude of a celestial
body.
Celestial horizon. (Astron.) See def. 2, above.
Dip of the horizon (Astron.), the vertical angle between
the sensible horizon and a line to the visible horizon,
the latter always being below the former.
Rational horizon, and
Sensible horizon. (Astron.) See
def. 2, above.
Visible horizon. See definitions 1 and 2, above.
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Rational
\Ra"tion*al\ (r[a^]sh"[u^]n*al), a. [L. rationalis: cf.
F. rationnel. See
Ratio,
Reason, and cf.
Rationale.]
1. Relating to the reason; not physical; mental.
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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.
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2. Having reason, or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with
reason or understanding; reasoning.
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It is our glory and happiness to have a rational
nature. --Law.
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3. Agreeable to reason; not absurd, preposterous,
extravagant, foolish, fanciful, or the like; wise;
judicious; as, rational conduct; a rational man.
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4. (Chem.) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and
reactions of a compound; graphic; -- said of formul[ae].
See under
Formula.
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Rational horizon. (Astron.) See
Horizon, 2
(b) .
Rational quantity (Alg.), one that can be expressed without
the use of a radical sign, or in exact 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.
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Syn: Sane; sound; intelligent; reasonable; sensible; wise;
discreet; judicious.
Usage:
Rational,
reasonable. Rational has reference to
reason as a faculty of the mind, and is opposed to
irrational; as, a rational being, a rational state of
mind, rational views, etc. In these cases the
speculative reason is more particularly, referred to.
Reasonable has reference to the exercise of this
faculty for practical purposes, and means, governed or
directed by reason; as, reasonable desires or plans; a
reasonable charge; a reasonable prospect of success.
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What higher in her society thou find'st
Attractive, human, rational, love still.
--Milton.
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A law may be reasonable in itself, although a
man does not allow it, or does not know the
reason of the lawgivers. --Swift.
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