observationallyadv.
/ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃn̩əli/, /ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃn̩l̩i/, /ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃənl̩i/, /ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃ(ə)nəli/, U.S. /ˌɑbzərˈveɪʃ(ə)nəli/ By means of observation; with regard to observation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > [adverb] > observing
observationally1893
the world > matter > chemistry > experiments > [adverb] > by scientific observation
observationally1893
1893 T. H. Huxley in Westm. Gaz. 29 Dec. 7/2 A profound distrust of all long chains of deductive reasoning,..unless the links could be experimentally or observationally tested.
1930 A. S. Eddington Rotation of Galaxy 13 The effect on the apparent angular motion..remains always on the verge of what is detectable observationally.
1964 Philos. Rev. 73 203 We cannot observationally verify the speaker's claims.
1976 Nature 26 Feb. 628/2 Observationally one requires better high resolution, far-infrared and molecular maps and a near-infrared search for the dust-enshrouded protostars in the H II regions before the vastly complex physics and mechanics of these birthplaces of stars can be understood fully.
1992 S. P. Maran Astron. & Astrophysics Encycl. 483/1 The nascent science of neutrino astronomy is based observationally upon the rare interactions of neutrinos with a suitable target.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.1893