| 释义 |
▪ I. experiment, n.|ɛkˈspɛrɪmənt|
Also 4–5 -yment, 6 -imente.
[a. OF. experiment, ad. L. experīment-um, n. of action f. experīrī to try.]
1. a. The action of trying anything, or putting it to proof; a test, trial; esp. in phrases, to make experiment, † take (an) experiment. Const. of. Now somewhat arch., and conveying some notion of sense 3.
1382[see experience n. 1 quot. 1388]. 1542Udall in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 7 Oons again to take experimente of me. 1598Shakes. Merry W. iv. ii. 36 To make another experiment of his suspition. 1618Wither Motto, ‘Nec Careo’ (1633) 533, I want not much experiment to show That all is good God pleaseth to bestow. 1691T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 6 The making the first Experiment thereof at Portsmouth. 1758Johnson Idler No. 2 ⁋10 He may..make a cheap experiment of his abilities. 1778Burke Corr. (1844) II. 241 The thing was worth the experiment. 1818Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. iii. 99 A short experiment of resistance. 1847Emerson Repr. Men, Napoleon Wks. (Bohn) I. 381 Here was an experiment..of the powers of intellect without conscience.
†b. An expedient or remedy to be tried. Obs.
1586Cogan Haven Health (1636) 120 The water..is given to drinke..as a certaine experiment. 1657W. Coles Adam in Eden lxxviii, You will find it a sure Experiment for the Quinsey. 1676Lister in Ray's Corr. (1848) 124 The vinegar..from Gallium luteum, which I have tried, and is a rare experiment. 1719De Foe Crusoe (1840) I. 146 At length I found out an experiment for that, also, which was this, etc.
2. A tentative procedure; a method, system of things, or course of action, adopted in uncertainty whether it will answer the purpose.
1594Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits (1616) 307 Let him..cause some shepheards to try this experiment. 1625Bacon Ess., Innovations (Arb.) 527 It is good..not to try Experiments in States. 1664Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 194 Begin again in ten or twelve Days..to make Experiments. 1874Green Short Hist. viii. 582 Puritanism..as a political experiment..had ended in utter failure. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 72 The experiment had never been tried of reasoning with mankind.
3. An action or operation undertaken in order to discover something unknown, to test a hypothesis, or establish or illustrate some known truth.
a. in science.
1362Langl. P. Pl. A. xi. 157 Experimentis of Alconomye Of Alberdes makynge, Nigromancye and perimancie. c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. 7 (MS. A.) Confermynge my wordis..wiþ experiment þat I have longe tyme used. 1471Ripley Comp. Alch. in Ashm. (1652) 189 Many Experyments I have had in hond. 1594Plat (title), Diverse new and conceited Experiments from which there may be sundrie both pleasing and profitable uses drawne. 1690Locke Hum. Und. iv. xii. §10 A Man accustomed to rational and regular Experiments, shall be able [etc.]. 1717J. Keill Anim. Œcon. (1738) 417 An Observation or Experiment carefully made..leads us with greater Certainty to the Solution. 1842W. Grove Corr. Phys. Forces (1850) 50 If the experiment be performed in an exhausted receiver..the substance forming the electrodes is condensed.
b. gen. (transf.)
1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. 12 The gathering of principles out of their owne particular experiments. 1750Hume Lib. & Necess. 134 These records of wars [etc.] are so many collections of experiments, by which the politician..fixes the principles of his science.
†c. The object experimented on; the subject of an experiment. Obs. rare.
a1678Marvell Let. Sir J. Trott Wks. I. 431 Where you yourselves are the experiment.
4. a. The process or practice of conducting such operations; experimentation.
1678R. R[ussell] Geber iii. ii. i. viii. 161 This is proved by Experiment. 1751Watts Improv. Mind i. §4 (1801) 17 This sort of observation is called experiment. 1794J. Hutton Philos. Light, etc. 117 Experiment is the wise design of a scientific mind, inquiring after the order of events. 1830Herschel Stud. Nat. Phil. 76 By putting in action causes and agents over which we have control, and purposely varying their combinations, and noticing what effect takes place; this is experiment. a1862Buckle Civiliz. (1869) III. v. 462 Experiment..is merely experience artificially modified.
b. concr. Experimental apparatus.
1962F. I. Ordway et al. Basic Astronautics iv. 128 The solar particle experiment includes six solid-state, semiconductor devices. 1967Lebende Sprachen XII. 161/1 Experiment wissen-schaftliche Apparatur(en), Messgerät(e). The experiment will measure the distribution of oxygen in the atmosphere. 1969New Yorker 12 Apr. 104/3 The three pots are the passive seismic experiment, the solar-wind experiment, and the suprathermal-ion-detector. Ibid. 110/3 A small stool..for the experiment to sit on.
†5. Practical acquaintance with a person or thing; experience; an instance of this. Const. of.
1560Rolland Crt. Venus ii. 662 He thairof had na experiment. 1586A. Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 101 Of his..good behaviour [I] have had sound and large experiment. c1645Howell Lett. (1650) II. 113, I know by som experiments which I have had of you. 1699Bentley Phal. Pref. 4, I speak from Experiment. 1741Middleton Cicero (ed. 3) II. vii. 255 This first experiment of Caesar's clemency.
†6. Practical proof; a specimen, an example.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 209 b, By apparicyons and many argumentes and experymentes..he appered to his discyples. 1578Timme Calvin on Gen. 264 This is a true experiment of our obedience. a1628Preston New Covt. (1634) 302, I will give you an experiment of it; you shall see two notable examples of it. 1684tr. Eutropius vii. 177 [He] could not shew any experiment of himself..for..when he was beat in a skirmish..He kill'd him self.
7. attrib., as experiment farm, station, an institution provided with means for carrying out scientific research into methods of agriculture, etc.
1893J. Auld Picturesque Burlington 128 State Experiment Farm, including farm house, barn, creamery, [etc.]. 1905Daily Chron. 28 Aug. 4/4, I have seen a crop of 100 bushels of oats growing on one of the experiment farms in Canada.
1874Connecticut Bd. Agric. Rep. 66 The establishment of experiment stations. 1892Pall Mall Gaz. 4 Apr. 3/1 The most careful investigations at many of the experiment stations show that not only are all traces of the poisons removed before the fruit ripens, but [etc.]. 1964Economist 19 Dec. 1352/1 Their [sc. the Americans'] research departments or ‘experiment stations’.
▪ II. experiment, v.|ɛkˈspɛrɪmənt|
[f. prec. n.]
†1. trans. To have experience of; to experience; to feel, suffer. Obs.
1483Caxton æsop 3 And these thynges sene and experymented Esope retourned to his labour. 1503Sheph. Kalender lii, He shall..experyment evill fortunes. a1577Gascoigne Wks. (1587) Ep., But a man of middle yeares who hath to his cost experimented the vanities of youth. 1627–77Feltham Resolves i. xxv. 44 Having so often experimented his juggling. 1659Hammond On Ps. iii. 7 Paraphr. 23 Thy fatherly mercy..so often experimented by me. 1727A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. I. viii. 86 Having experimented the Turkish wholesom Chastisements of plundring and bastonading.
†2. To ascertain or establish by trial (a fact, the existence of anything, etc.). Also with obj. and compl. inf., and with sentence as obj. Obs.
1481Caxton Myrr. i. v. 22 Til they had experimented whiche was trewe, and who knewe most. 1561Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 27 a, Thys helpeth very well and is experimented. 1564Haward Eutropius ii. 19 They had..experimented that they wer of great force upon the sea. 1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. A iv, The greater part..we have allready experimented to be accomplished in these our dayes. 1699W. Dampier Voy. II. iii. 50 This I..experimented by exposing a couple of Goats to the Asperity thereof. 1755B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sc. iii. xi. 381 That may be easily experimented in a small Bird. 1812Southey Omniana I. 258 What is more wonderful, and.. may be experimented every day.
3. To make an experiment upon, make trial of, test, try (? a gallicism).
1524Wolsey in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. App. xii. 24 The said viceroy [of Naples] wolde..experiment batail with the..French king. 1558Warde tr. Alexis' Secr. (1568) 42 a, The pouder that was experimented in England. 1594Carew tr. Huarte's Exam. Wits (1616) 181 In experimenting of medicines, hee should kill an infinit number of persons. 1692Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) II. 559 Yesterday the duke of Leinster's engine for working of wrecks was experimented on the Thames. 1703T. N. City & C. Purchaser 91, I could very well experiment the strength of Mortar. 1776Entick London I. 309 Several articles were proposed to be experimented, and if found good..to be confirmed. 1899Westm. Gaz. 18 May 1/3 They are about to experiment another system, on a six months' probation. 1900Ibid. 5 Jan. 10/1 It was he who first experimented the new battle formation of the French Army at the famous manœuvres of 1881–2.
4. intr. To make an experiment or experiments. Const. on; also in indirect passive.
1787W. Marshall Norfolk I. 366 The laudable spirit of experimenting. 1837Goring & Pritchard Microgr. 193 A person who has experimented with a reflector. 1857Kingsley Th. in Gravel-pit Misc. II. 388 The more I experiment..the more unexpected puzzles and wonders I find. 1880Richardson in Med. Temp. Jrnl. 72 To compel those experimented on to abide by the definition. |