theoreticallyadv.

a1626 A. Lake Serm. St. Maries Oxf. iv. 509 in Sermons (1629) Some deliuer Theologie more Theoretically then practically.

1694 T. Taylor tr. N. Malebranche Treat. Search after Truth ii. 53 It being not so difficult or necessary, to know them [sc. the rules for resolving questions in the search for truth] theoretically, as to put them in Practice.

1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man i. iii. 343 This lessens the Difference theoretically also.

1791 W. Anderson Philos. Anc. Greece vi. 340 Few or none had studied it theoretically by itself, unless in a superficial manner.

1831 D. Brewster Treat. Optics xxxiii. §163. 274 Huygens..investigated the subject, both experimentally and theoretically.

1886 Manch. Examiner 6 Jan. 3/1 Questions which are theoretically interesting to thoughtful people and practically interesting to every one.

1920 Chem. & Metall. Engin. 22 300/2 I have been interested in the problem for many years, theoretically and experimentally.

2011 Hispania 94 167 The willingness of the profession to try newer and more theoretically sound techniques.

1790 C. C. Pinckney Let. 19 June in J. Sparks Corr. Amer. Revol. (1853) IV. 341 One great advantage, that might not attend a Constitution theoretically perfect.

1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel I. iii. ix. 196 The position was not quite so pleasant as, theoretically, he had deemed it.

1875 W. D. Whitney Life & Growth Lang. iv. 67 The possible number of human articulations is theoretically infinite.

1922 H. W. Carr Theory of Monads ii. vi. 138 This content, however, though theoretically unlimited, is practically defined in its range by our organisation.

1971 Cumberland (Maryland) Evening Times 22 Nov. 8/6 Theoretically, the 1925 law sets specific limits on contributions to and spending by candidates.

2011 R. Guest Borderless Econ. 206 It is theoretically possible to seal a 2,000-mile land border between a rich country and a poor one, but wildly impractical.