attractionistn.
/əˈtrakʃn̩ɪst/, /əˈtrakʃnənɪst/, U.S. /əˈtrækʃənəst/ Now historical.
A proponent of or expert in a physical theory which asserts that attraction (attraction n. 4) is a consequence of an imperceptible attractive force intrinsic to the bodies involved and which operates at a distance, as opposed to being mediated by some mechanical process or other means; esp. an adherent of Newton's theory of gravitation.In contrast to Newton's theory of gravitation, Georges-Louis de Sage (1724–1803) hypothesized that gravitation is the result of bodies being bombarded by certain particles. More recently, Einstein's theory of general relativity explained gravitation as being the result of distortions in spacetime which are caused by all bodies possessing mass.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > branch of knowledge > systematic knowledge, science > [noun] > scientist > holding theory of attraction
attractionist1748
1748 London Mag. 17 App. 583 The attractionists were in raptures with that which they perceived..in electrical bodies.
1838 Southern Literary Messenger Dec. 748/2 The European attractionists say, the moon draws up the water under her.
1867 G. Masson tr. P. Janet Materialism iv. 69 The late M. Newton inclined very much towards the theory of attraction, and at the present day all the English are very zealous attractionists [Fr. attractionnistes].
1925 Philos. Rev. 34 535 Present-day physicists..smile at the time when their predecessors were divided into ‘attractionists’ and ‘impulsionists’.
2012 S. Tester in tr. G. C. Lichtenberg Philos. Writings 21 Attractionists, such as Kant,..explained gravity as the result of an imperceptible force that attracted one body to another.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1748