Rate Comes From the Latin for a Calculated Share
A rate is a measured proportion. The word's root also gives reason and ration.
A rate is a measure of one quantity against another, a charge, or a speed. It comes from Latin *rata*, a calculated share, from *reri*, to reckon. That verb sits behind a remarkable spread of English words: *reason*, *ration*, *rational*, *ratify* and *ratio* all descend from it, along with *rate* itself. A separate verb *rate*, meaning to scold, is an unrelated Middle English word; it survives mainly in older writing and in *berate*.
- A proportion. *The birth rate.*
- A charge. *The hourly rate.*
- A speed. *At a steady rate.*
- To assess. *Rating a film.*
- Latin — *reri*, to reckon. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | rate | A rate. |
| Verb | rate | Rating. |
| Noun | rating | A rating. |
| Related | ratio | A ratio. |
| Latin | rata | A calculated share. |
- The interest rate rose.Finance.
- At a steady rate.Speed.
- Reri means to reckon.Etymology.
The reri family
- Rate — a reckoned proportion
- Ratio — a reckoning between quantities
- Ration — a reckoned share
- Reason — a reckoning of why
- Ratify — to confirm by reckoning correct
Medieval Latin *rata*, from Latin *pro rata parte*, according to a calculated share, from *reri*, to reckon.
Is reason related to rate?
Yes. Both descend from Latin reri, to reckon, along with ratio, ration and ratify.
What does pro rata mean?
According to a calculated share, the phrase that gave English the word rate.