| 释义 |
theoretical, a. and n.|θiːɒˈrɛtɪkəl|
[f. as prec. + -al1: see -ical.]
A. adj.
†1. (In sense of Gr. θεωρητικός, L. theōrēticus.) Of or pertaining to contemplation, contemplative.
1616Bullokar Eng. Expos., Theoretical, that which belongeth to contemplation or inward knowledge of a thing. 1623Cockeram, Theoreticall, belonging to studie or contemplation.
2. Of, pertaining or relating to theory; of the nature of or consisting in theory. Often opp. to practical.
a1652J. Smith Sel. Disc. vi. 207 They fall into great confusions in many theoretical matters of no small moment. 1700C. Nesse Antid. Armin. (1827) 99 The persons..had merely escaped..through a theoretical knowledge of the Lord. 1727–41Chambers Cycl. s.v. Theoretic, The sciences are ordinarily divided into theoretical, as theology, philosophy, &c., and practical, as medicine, law, &c. 1770Cook Voy. round World ii. x. (1773) 477 The theoretical arguments which have been brought to prove that the existence of a southern continent is necessary to preserve an equilibrium between the two hemispheres. 1830Mackintosh Eth. Philos. Wks. 1846 I. 177 In the strictly theoretical part his exposition is considerably fuller. 1860Maury Phys. Geog. Sea (Low) viii. §381 These observations agree with the theoretical deductions. 1860Abp. Thomson Laws Th. §129. 274 Judgments that relate to speculation only are called theoretical; those which refer to practice are practical.
b. That is such according to theory; existing only in theory, ideal, hypothetical.
1826Henry Chem. II. 699 The theoretical numbers not agreeing with the experimental results, which are those of Dr. John Davy. 1883Sir N. Lindley in Law Rep. 11 Q.B. Div. 556 The attachment was granted for something more than a mere theoretical contempt. 1883Gilmour Mongols xvii. 204 A man..whose existence is evidently..theoretical.
3. a. Of the mind or intellectual faculties: Having the power of forming theories; speculative.
a1652J. Smith Sel. Disc. iv. 115 As for the mind and theoretical power. 1863E. V. Neale Anal. Th. & Nat. 117 The intuitions of space and time, and the conceptions of relation drawn from the theoretical reason.
b. Of persons: Addicted to theory; constructing or dealing with theories; speculative.
1840Carlyle Heroes vi. (1872) 211 What is to be done?..a question which theoretical constitution-builders may find easy to answer. 1859Darwin Orig. Spec. i. (1860) 12 Doubts have been thrown on this principle only by theoretical writers. 1902J. Denney Death of Christ iii. 121 The simplest preacher and the most effective is always the most absolutely theoretical. 1922Glasgow Herald 30 Oct. 10 He was a brilliant theoretical chemist. 1936Proc. IRE XXIV. 353 In our search for good emitters, very little aid can be obtained from the theoretical physicist. 1951C. P. Snow Masters i. v. 48 One of the earliest theoretical chemists. 1958J. Cleugh tr. Jungk's Brighter than Thousand Suns i. 17 Rutherford for his part did not hesitate to declare that it was the theoretical, not the experimental, physicists who were to blame for the confusion. 1968J. J. C. Smart Betw. Sci. & Philos. 13 Theoretical physicists have far outstripped philosophers in their imaginativeness. 1980English World-Wide I. 251 The importance of this book is that it is by a scholar who is generally considered to be a ‘theoretical’ linguist, but who is sympathetic to socio-linguistics and its implications for theory.
4. Used as theoretic a. 5.
1920, etc. [see quantum-theoretical a.]. 1934[see field-theoretical a.].
B. n. (pl.) Theoretical points or matters.
1860H. B. Wilson in Ess. & Rev. 181 It is..strange..to expect all ministers..to be of one opinion in theoreticals. |