Adjacent Words

rhyme or reason definitions

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Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 15th century good sense or reason

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. A ryme I learned long ago. --Chaucer. He knew Himself to sing, and build the lofty rime. --Milton. 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. For rhyme with reason may dispense, And sound has right to govern sense. --Prior. 3. Verses, usually two, having this correspondence with each other; a couplet; a poem containing rhymes. 4. A word answering in sound to another word. 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

see rhyme