| 释义 |
empiric, a. and n.|ɛmˈpɪrɪk|
Forms: 6–7 emperic, -ike, -ique, -yke, empirike, -ique, -yke, empyrick, -yke, 7–8 emperick(e, empirick(e, empric(k(e, 6– empiric; also 6 impericke.
[ad. L. empīricus, Gr. ἐµπειρικ-ός, f. ἐµπειρία experience, f. ἔµπειρος skilled, f. ἐν in + πεῖρα trial, experiment. In 17th c. usually (ˈɛmpɪrɪk)]
A. adj. = empirical in various senses. (The use as n. occurs earlier in Eng., and the adjectival senses are chiefly derived from it.)
1605Bacon Adv. Learn. i. 8 It is accounted an errour, to commit a naturall bodie to Emperique Phisitions. a1649Drummond of Hawthornden Jas. V Wks. (1711) 90 This empyrick balm could the French apply to cure the wounds of the Scottish common-wealth. 1667Milton P.L. v. 440 By fire Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchimist Can turn..Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold. a1700Dryden (L.), Bold counsels..Like empirick remedies..last are try'd. 1787Phil. Trans. LXXVII. 43 They are only empiric, and not founded upon the theory and principles of gravitation. 1815Scribbleomania 76 Empiric pigmies may prate about straws. 1877E. Caird Philos. Kant ii. v. 286 The combination of sensitive states by an empiric law of association.
B. n.
1. A member of the sect among ancient physicians called Empirici (Ἐµπειρικοί), who (in opposition to the Dogmatici and Methodici) drew their rules of practice entirely from experience, to the exclusion of philosophical theory.
1541R. Copland Galyen's Terap. 2 G ij, The whiche thynge the Emperykes vnderstande by onely experyence. 1601Holland Pliny II. 344 Another faction and sect of Physitians, who..called themselues Empiriques. 1605Timme Quersit. Pref. 5 Among Physitians there are Empericks, Dogmaticks, Methodici, or Abbreuiators, and Paracelsians. 1738J. Keill Anim. Œcon. Pref. 30 The Doctrine of the Empiricks, which despises all Reasoning. 1805Med. Jrnl. XIV. 446 The ancient empirics were peculiarly eminent for their talent of observation.
b. One who, either in medicine or in other branches of science, relies solely upon observation and experiment. Also fig.
1578Lyte Dodoens vi. vi. 665 Broomrape is counted of some empiriques (or practisioners)..for an excellent medicine. 1613R. C. Table Alph. (ed. 3), Emperick, he that hath all his skill in phisicke by practise. 1858Robertson Lect. i. 11 A mere empiric in political legislation. 1873Hale In His Name viii. 65 The Florentine would be called only an empiric by the science of to-day. 1877E. Caird Philos. Kant v. 100 The animals are pure empirics.
2. An untrained practitioner in physic or surgery; a quack.
[1527Andrew Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters O j, Than came there an onlerned Empyricus.] 1562W. Bullein Bk. Simples 68 b, One called Edwardes, a doltish impericke. 1601Shakes. All's Well ii. i. 125 We must not corrupt our hope, To prostitute our past-cure malladie To empericks. 1621Burton Anat. Mel. ii. i. iv. i, There be many mountebanks, quack-salvers, Empericks, in every street. a1764Lloyd Ep. C. Churchill Poet Wks. 1774 I. 85 Quack and Critic differ but in name. Empirics frontless both, they mean the same. 1806Med. Jrnl. XV. 369 Bone setters are another set of empirics. 1835Browning Paracelsus 164 They are hooting the empiric, The ignorant and incapable fool.
b. transf. A pretender, impostor, charlatan.
1640Quarles Enchirid. iv. lxxxix, Hee that beleeves with an implicite Faith, is a meere Empricke in Religion. 1670Eachard Cont. Clergy 22 A disesteemed pettifogger, or empyrick in divinity. 1777W. Dalrymple Trav. Sp. & Port. cxii, The Bishop, supreme empiric, heals the minds and cures the consciences..by the same prescription. 1817Coleridge Lay Serm. 386 Such are the political empirics, mischievous in proportion to their effrontery, and ignorant in proportion to their presumption.
3. Comb. empiric-like adj. and adv.
1620Melton Astrolog. 9 He delivered this Emperike like Oration. a1700Dryden (J.), The illiterate writer, emp'rick like applies To each disease..chance remedies. |