| 释义 |
experimental, a. and n.|ɛkˌspɛrɪˈmɛntəl|
[f. as prec. + -al1.]
A. adj.
I. Relating to experience.
†1.
a. Of a witness: Having actual or personal experience of anything.
b. Of things: Coming within the range of experience; observed. Obs.
c1449Pecock Repr. iv. iv. 448 The same hool noumbre of homeli and experimental witnessers of Cristis deedis. 1620Melton Astrolog. 29 It is vncerteine whether the experimentall effect is to be ascribed to this or that planet. 1704Newton Optics iii. (1721) 364 We have no other evidence of universal impenetrability, besides a large experience, without an experimental exception. 1749–51G. Lavington Enthus. Meth. & Papists (1754) II. 218 Of this he himself is an experimental witness.
2. a. Based on or derived from experience as opposed to mere testimony or conjecture. † Of a remedy: Discovered by experience. b. Founded on experience only; empirical.
1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 46 b, Experymentall knowlege of the heuenly lyfe to come. 1599Shakes. Much Ado iv. i. 168 Trust not my reading, nor my obseruations, Which with experimental seal dothe warrant The tenure of my booke. 1608Topsell Serpents 594 A certain experimental unguent known to be practised in this sport, made of the oyl pressed out of wilde radish. 1635W. Wood (title) Nevv Englands Prospect. A true, lively, and experimentall description of that part of America, commonly called Nevv England. 1668Excellency of Pen & Pencil 46 An experimental Rule practised by the best Etcher in England. 1709Berkeley Th. Vision §72 Not a necessary but only an experimental connexion. 1869Goulburn Purs. Holiness Pref. 10 To bring myself and others to an experimental knowledge of God. 1879Keane tr. Lefèvre's Philos. ii. 141 Aristotle never ceases to oppose science to experimental knowledge.
c. experimental religion: practical experience of the influence of religion on the powers and operations of the soul. † experimental divinity: the method of dealing with the conscience and religious feelings; so † experimental divine.
1614Bp. Hall Epist. i. vii, The one excelled in experimentall divinity; and knewe well how to stay a weake conscience, how to raise a fallen. 1658L. Womock Exam. Tilenus 85, I was never much taken with those Obadiahs..give me your experimentall Divines.
II. Relating to experiment.
3. a. Based on, derived from, or ascertained by experiment.
1570Dee Math. Pref. 30 That, was rather a kinde of Experimentall demonstration. 1674C. Goodall College Phys. Vind. (1676) 89 Their experimental demonstrations of the circulation of the Chyle. 1830Herschel Stud. Nat. Phil. 73 Legislation and politics become gradually regarded as experimental sciences. 1881Carpenter in 19th Cent. 615 Experimental evidence has not yet..been obtained of the direct penetration of the solar rays to more than 100 fathoms.
b. experimental philosophy: (a) the philosophy which insists on experiment as the necessary foundation and test of all reasoned conclusions(b) physics or ‘natural philosophy’ as studied or demonstrated by means of experiments (now rare). So also, experimental chemistry, experimental physics, experimental psychology, experimental science. Hence experimental philosopher, experimental physicist, experimental psychologist, experimental chemist, etc.
1651G. Thomson (title), A vindication of Lord Bacon, the Auctor of Experimental Philosophy. 1665Glanvill Sceps. Sci. 68 All experimental philosophers have been needlessly imployed. 1706S. Clarke On the Evidences Pref. A iij, Robert Boyle was..diligent and successful in improving experimental philosophy. 1809Med. Jrnl. XXI. 175 Lectures..at Guy's Hospital..[on] Experimental Philosophy. 1819Pantologia, Experimental Philosophy is an investigation of the wisdom of God in the works and laws of nature. 1833J. S. Mill Lett. (1910) I. 59 Detrosier..has some prospect of picking up a living as a lecturer on experimental physics. 1871–2Cassell's Techn. Educ. II. 303 A physician and experimental chemist. 1878S. H. Hodgson Philos. Reflection I. 227 Fortunately we possess a genuine a posteriori experimental psychology, a true science. 1887J. Thomas Dict. Biog. I. 421 Boyle..a celebrated chemist and experimental philosopher. 1935Discovery June 183/2 The gestalt-theorists, the behaviourists, and the experimental psychologists. 1952J. A. Passmore in Stout God & Nature p. xxxvii, To Stout..experimental psychology was a source of information, not a substitute for thinking. 1957G. Ryle in C. A. Mace Brit. Philos. in Mid-Century 258 A not very ancient Oxford Chair of Physics still retains its old label, the Chair of Experimental Philosophy. 1958J. Cleugh tr. Jungk's Brighter than Thousand Suns i. 17 It was the theoretical, not the experimental, physicists who were to blame for the confusion.
transf.1796Burke Let. Noble Ld. Wks. VIII. 55 As speculatists he [the Duke of Bedford] is a glorious subject for their experimental philosophy.
4. Of persons: Skilled in experiment. rare.
1811Pinkerton Petral. II. 421 A more candid and equitable judge cannot be invoked than the patient and experimental Saussure.
5. Of the nature of an experiment; tentative.
1818Jas. Mill Brit. India I. i. i. 16 A first and experimental attempt. 1857Ruskin Pol. Econ. Art 35 A young man's work..may be more or less experimental.
6. a. Of or pertaining to experiments; used in or for making experiments. Freq. as experimental farm.
1792A. Young Trav. France 213 Signore Arduino..shewed me the experimental farm. 1812Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. Introd. 9, I have..received much useful experimental aid from Mr. E. Davy. 1869Tyndall in Fortn. Rev. 1 Feb. 236 The experimental tube now before you. 1881N. Lockyer in Nature No. 617. 398 The spectrum of potassium..varies very much under different experimental conditions. 1894Trans. R. Soc. Canada XII. iv. 143 Six years ago the testing of trees and shrubs..was begun at the experimental farms at Brandon, Manitoba. 1906Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 14 Jan. 10/3 The Cigarmakers' union..urged that the experimental farms for the growth of tobacco be established in Canada. 1911C. E. W. Bean ‘Dreadnought’ of Darling xxv. 319 When Australian subeditors want to make the open page of their papers especially attractive, they cast on to it the great plans that are immediately ahead..about new experimental farms to be planted in every district.
b. spec. of a theatre, play, etc.
1929S. W. Cheney Theatre xxiii. 520 Jacques Copeau..administered one of the..most fruitful of twentieth century experimental theatres. 1931W. Rothenstein Men & Memories II. xxiv. 205 Experimental theatres are expensive things. 1961Bowman & Ball Theatre Lang. 127 Experimental, said of drama, staging, a type of theatre, etc., which seeks freshness in the writing and production of plays rather than the traditional formulas for commercial or conventional success. 1969Gish & Pinchot Lillian Gish xiv. 194 An experimental theater was also hit.
†B. n. Obs. [The adj. used absol.]
a. A trial, an experiment.
b. An experimental proof.
c. A fact or datum of experience.
d. pl. Things learned by experience; experimental or practical knowledge.
a.1659C. Noble Moderate Answ. to Immod. Queries 1 Experimentals that have been made..what kind of Government would best go down.
b.1664Power Exp. Philos. ii. 130 Pre-demonstrate them, by calculation, before the Senses give an Experimental thereof.
c.1628T. Spencer Logic 5 Art is made, when as one vniversall thing, is framed out of many experimentalls. 1651N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. ii. xl. (1739) 176 Whose Counsels are..Notionary, and grounded..not upon experimentals of most publick concernment.
d.1748Richardson Clarissa (1811) III. 361 As to experimentals..a mere novice. |