Empiric

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Empiric \Em*pir"ic\, Empirical \Em*pir"ic*al\, a.
     1. Pertaining to, or founded upon, experiment or experience;
        depending upon the observation of phenomena; versed in
        experiments.
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              In philosophical language, the term empirical means
              simply what belongs to or is the product of
              experience or observation.            --Sir W.
                                                    Hamilton.
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              The village carpenter . . . lays out his work by
              empirical rules learnt in his apprenticeship. --H.
                                                    Spencer.
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     2. Depending upon experience or observation alone, without
        due regard to science and theory; -- said especially of
        medical practice, remedies, etc.; wanting in science and
        deep insight; as, empiric skill, remedies.
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     {Empirical formula}. (Chem.) See under {Formula}.
  
     Syn: See {Transcendental}.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Empiric \Em*pir"ic\ (?; 277), n. [L. empiricus an empiric, Gr. ?
     experienced, equiv. to ?; ? in + ? a trial, experiment; akin
     to ? ford, way, and E. fare: cf. F. empirique. See {In}, and
     {Fare}.]
     1. One who follows an empirical method; one who relies upon
        practical experience.
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     2. One who confines himself to applying the results of mere
        experience or his own observation; especially, in
        medicine, one who deviates from the rules of science and
        regular practice; an ignorant and unlicensed pretender; a
        quack; a charlatan.
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              Among the Greek physicians, those who founded their
              practice on experience called themselves empirics.
                                                    --Krauth-Fleming.
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              Swallow down opinions as silly people do empirics'
              pills.                                --Locke.
        Empiric

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  empiric
       adj 1: relying on medical quackery; "empiric treatment" [syn: {empirical}]
       2: derived from experiment and observation rather than theory;
          "an empirical basis for an ethical theory"; "empirical
          laws"; "empirical data"; "an empirical treatment of a
          disease about which little is known" [syn: {empirical}]
          [ant: {theoretical}]