Rhyme or reason

Rhyme or reason
Rhyme Rhyme, n. [OE. ryme, rime, AS. r[=i]m number; akin to OHG. r[=i]m number, succession, series, G. reim rhyme. The modern sense is due to the influence of F. rime, which is of German origin, and originally the same word.] [The Old English spelling {rime} is becoming again common. See Note under {Prime}.] 1. An expression of thought in numbers, measure, or verse; a composition in verse; a rhymed tale; poetry; harmony of language. ``Railing rhymes.'' --Daniel. [1913 Webster]

A ryme I learned long ago. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

He knew Himself to sing, and build the lofty rime. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. (Pros.) Correspondence of sound in the terminating words or syllables of two or more verses, one succeeding another immediately or at no great distance. The words or syllables so used must not begin with the same consonant, or if one begins with a vowel the other must begin with a consonant. The vowel sounds and accents must be the same, as also the sounds of the final consonants if there be any. [1913 Webster]

For rhyme with reason may dispense, And sound has right to govern sense. --Prior. [1913 Webster]

3. Verses, usually two, having this correspondence with each other; a couplet; a poem containing rhymes. [1913 Webster]

4. A word answering in sound to another word. [1913 Webster]

{Female rhyme}. See under {Female}.

{Male rhyme}. See under {Male}.

{Rhyme or reason}, sound or sense.

{Rhyme royal} (Pros.), a stanza of seven decasyllabic verses, of which the first and third, the second, fourth, and fifth, and the sixth and seventh rhyme. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • rhyme or reason — If something is without rhyme or reason, it is unreasonable. ( Beyond rhyme or reason is an alternative.) …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • rhyme or reason — ► rhyme or reason logical explanation. there s no rhyme or reason to it. Main Entry: ↑rhyme …   English terms dictionary

  • rhyme or reason — noun Etymology: translation of French (sans) rime ni raison (without) rhyme or reason : good sense, reason, reasonableness the order of entries is utterly without rhyme or reason Saturday Review * * * rhyme or reason Reasonable or sensi …   Useful english dictionary

  • Rhyme and Reason — Infobox television show name = Rhyme and Reason caption = format = Game Show runtime = 30 Minutes creator = W.T. Naud Productions starring = Bob Eubanks Announcer: Johnny Jacobs country = USA rating= network = ABC first aired =1975 last aired… …   Wikipedia

  • rhyme or reason — {n. phr.} A good plan or reason; a reasonable purpose or explanation. Used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. * /Don could see no rhyme or reason to the plot of the play./ * /It seemed to Ruth that her little brother had temper …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rhyme or reason — {n. phr.} A good plan or reason; a reasonable purpose or explanation. Used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. * /Don could see no rhyme or reason to the plot of the play./ * /It seemed to Ruth that her little brother had temper …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • rhyme\ or\ reason — n. phr. A good plan or reason; a reasonable purpose or explanation. Used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. Don could see no rhyme or reason to the plot of the play. It seemed to Ruth that her little brother had temper tantrums …   Словарь американских идиом

  • rhyme or reason —    If something is without rhyme or reason, it is unreasonable. ( Beyond rhyme or reason is an alternative.)   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • rhyme or reason — pro idi logic, sense, or method (usu. used in the negative): These decisions seem to be made without rhyme or reason. There was no rhyme or reason for what they did[/ex] …   From formal English to slang

  • rhyme or reason — a good plan or reason, a reasonable purpose or explanation Without rhyme or reason he suddenly decided to quit his job …   Idioms and examples

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