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Prudent vs Rational - What's the difference?

prudent | rational |

As a proper noun prudent

is .

As an adjective rational is

capable of reasoning.

As a noun rational is

(mathematics) a rational number: a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers.

prudent

English

(Webster 1913)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect in action, or in determining any line of conduct; careful, discreet, sensible; -- opposed to rash; directed by prudence or wise forethought; evincing prudence;
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1864 , author=Jules Verne , title=A Journey to the Center of the Earth , chapter=30 citation , passage=He did not hesitate what to do. It would be prudent to continue on to Omaha, for it would be dangerous to return to the train, which the Indians might still be engaged in pillaging.}}
  • * Moses established a grave and prudent law . --Milton.
  • Practically wise, judicious, shrewd
    • ''His prudent career moves reliably brought him to the top
  • Frugal; economical; not extravagant;
    • Only prudent expenditure may provide quality within a restrictive budget

    Derived terms

    * prudence * prudently

    Synonyms

    * cautious, wary, circumspect, considerate, discreet, judicious, provident, economical, frugal, sagacious, sensible, careful, wise, reasonable

    Antonyms

    * imprudent

    Related terms

    * jurisprudence * prudence * prudential * provident

    Anagrams

    * ----

    rational

    English

    Alternative forms

    * rationall (obsolete)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) rationel, rational, from (etyl)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Capable of reasoning.
  • *
  • Logically sound; not contradictory or otherwise absurd.
  • (label) Healthy or balanced intellectually; exhibiting reasonableness.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2014-06-21, volume=411, issue=8892, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Magician’s brain , passage=The [Isaac] Newton that emerges from the [unpublished] manuscripts is far from the popular image of a rational practitioner of cold and pure reason. The architect of modern science was himself not very modern. He was obsessed with alchemy.}}
  • Of a number, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two integers.
    • ¾ is a rational number, but ?2 is an irrational number.
  • Of an algebraic expression, capable of being expressed as the ratio of two polynomials.
  • (label) Expressing the type, structure, relations, and reactions of a compound; graphic; said of formulae.
    • Antonyms
    * (reasonable) absurd, irrational, nonsensical * (capable of reasoning) arational, irrational, non-rational * (number theory) irrational
    Related terms
    * arational * irrational * non-rational * rationale * rationality * rationalness * subrational * suprarational

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) rational, from , for which see the first etymology.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (mathematics) A rational number: a number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers.
    • The quotient of two rationals''' is again a '''rational .
  • A rational being.
    • (Young)

    References

    * *

    Anagrams

    *