Found 1 items, similar to Rational horizon.
English → English (gcide) 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. [1913 Webster] And when the morning sun shall raise his car Above the border of this horizon. --Shak. [1913 Webster] All the horizon round Invested with bright rays. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 3. (Geol.) The epoch or time during which a deposit was made. [1913 Webster] The strata all over the earth, which were formed at the same time, are said to belong to the same geological horizon. --Le Conte. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 5. The limit of a person's range of perception, capabilities, or experience; as, children raised in the inner city have limited horizons. [PJC] 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. [PJC] 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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 2. Having reason, or the faculty of reasoning; endowed with reason or understanding; reasoning. [1913 Webster] It is our glory and happiness to have a rational nature. --Law. [1913 Webster] 3. Agreeable to reason; not absurd, preposterous, extravagant, foolish, fanciful, or the like; wise; judicious; as, rational conduct; a rational man. [1913 Webster] 4. (Chem.) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; -- said of formul[ae]. See under Formula. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] What higher in her society thou find'st Attractive, human, rational, love still. --Milton. [1913 Webster] A law may be reasonable in itself, although a man does not allow it, or does not know the reason of the lawgivers. --Swift. [1913 Webster]