frequently_asked_questions_files/Oxford Thesaurus.pdf

authenticate, guarantee, warrant, certify, affirm, ensure,
clinch, settle: The pact was ratified by all members.
ratio n. proportion, relationship, correlation, correspondence: What
is the ratio of male to female students at Oxford University?
In that area, the ratio of tenants to home-owners is about two
to one.
ration n. 1 share, quota, allotment, portion, helping, part,
provision, measure, dole, percentage, amount: Each person is
permitted a weekly fixed ration of butter, sugar, coffee, meat,
etc. We shall have to go on short rations till we are rescued. 2
rations. supplies, provisions, food, provender, victuals,
viands, eatables, edibles, comestibles, Brit commons: It was
not till the third week with our rations running low that we
really began to worry.
--v. 3 Often, ration out. allot, apportion, dole (out), give
out, distribute, deal out, mete out, parcel out, measure out,
hand out: As water was in short supply, we had to ration it.
One cup was rationed out to each of us every morning. 4 budget,
schedule, restrict, control, limit: Water had to be rationed to
one cup a day for each of us.
rational adj. 1 well-balanced, sane, sound, normal, reasonable,
reasoning, logical, ratiocinative, clear-headed, clear-eyed,
sober; of sound mind, Colloq all there: Desmond is a rational
human being who would be able to advise you about your problem.
2 discriminating, intelligent, thinking, enlightened, prudent,
wise, knowledgeable, informed: We could not have elected a more
rational representative for our cause than Robert Brown. 3
sensible, common-sense, commonsensical, practical, pragmatic,
down-to-earth, everyday, acceptable, reasonable, logical:
Philippa thinks she has a rational explanation for the strange
light we saw in the sky last night.
rationale n. reason, explanation, logical basis, grounds, logic,
reasoning, philosophy, principle, theory: Do you understand the
rationale of a policy for curbing inflation that sets interest
rates at a level where business, initiative, and productivity
are stifled?
rationalize