practicaladj.n.
/ˈpraktᵻkl/, U.S. /ˈpræktək(ə)l/ A. adj.† II. Having to do with trickery.
I. Having to do with action.
1.
a. Of, relating to practice or action, as opposed to speculation or theory. Frequently designating that area of a particular subject or discipline in which ideas or theories are tested or applied in practice.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > [adjective] > as opposed to theoretical
practica1425
practical?a1425
practive1526
pragmatical1597
active1605
operary1612
operarious1656
practitional1724
unbookish1887
practico-1913
applicational1917
hands-on1960
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 3v Þis crafte [surgery] is practicale [?a1425 Paris of practique; a1450 Caius practical; L. practicalis] & operatiue.
1563 tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. i. xv. f.55v Sometyme they saye it [sc. understanding] is practicall [L. practicum], whiche by conceyuyng of good or euill doeth diuersely moue the Will.
1597 T. Morley (title) A plaine and easie introduction to practicall mvsicke.
1620 T. Granger Syntagma Logicum 211 Of Arts some contemplatiue, some practicall.
1657 tr. A. Thevet Prosopographia 19 in T. North tr. Plutarch Lives (new ed.) The rest of Aristotles books must be referred to his Philosophy, which he divided into two parts, namely, speculative and practical.
1682 J. Flavell Pract. Treat. Fear (new ed.) ii. 18 Hypocrisie is a lie done, a practical lie.
1714 tr. I. Barrow Euclide's Elements (rev. ed.) Pref. Some principal Rules of practical Geometry, reducing them to their original Fountains.
1769 R. Weston (title) Tracts on practical agriculture and gardening.
1796 E. Burke Lett. Peace Regic. France iv, in Wks. (1812) IX. 78 A Constitution, that at the time of the writing had not so much as a practical existence.
1813 R. Owen New View of Society 34 A remedy..possessing no more practical difficulties than many of the common employments of life.
1849 W. Thomson Outl. Laws of Thought (ed. 2) 95 Method, which is usually described as the fourth part of Logic, is rather a complete practical Logic.
1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator iii. 202/2 The whole system..shows..the practical application of technical education.
1936 Discovery Mar. 66/2 The British Union of Practical Psychologists have produced..the first number of their new monthly journal, the Practical Psychology Magazine.
1960 J. F. Lehmann I am my Brother ii. i. 28 The practical problem remained of defending liberty in whatever way was still open to us.
2003 Publishers Weekly (Nexis) 11 Aug. 186 A lighthearted approach to practical magic with spells on how to get the most out of life.
b. Available or applicable in practice; suitable for a particular purpose; functional; (of an idea, plan, or method) likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances; feasible.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > [adjective] > practically useful
practical1642
economic1839
1642 J. Howell Instr. Forreine Travell (title page) Shewing by what cours..one may arrive to the practicall knowledge of the Languages.
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1673 (1955) IV. 5 Time, & experience, may forme him to a more practical way, than..university lectures, & erudition.
1701 J. Jones (title) Practical phonography: or, the new art of rightly spelling..by the sound.
1770 P. Luckombe Conc. Hist. Printing 323 He should..see the joyner set and fasten it in a steady and practical position.
1792 T. Paine Rights of Man: Pt. Second iii. 32 An assemblage of practical knowledge, which no one individual can possess.
1817 R. Owen New View of Society (new ed.) 94 Can it..be a crime to pursue the only practical means which a rational being can adopt to diminish the misery of man?
1858 W. Greener Gunnery in 1858 Pref. 7 I make no pretension to literary style, but have aimed to produce a practical work for practical men.
1879 J. A. Froude Cæsar xvii. 286 The barrenness of practical things.
1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. Encycl. Sport I. 291/2 A woman's cycling dress should be, in the first place, practical—that is, composed of materials which do not suffer from rain or dust and will stand a certain amount of hard wear.
1908 E. M. Forster Room with View ix. 165 A certain scheme, from which hitherto he had shrank, now appeared practical.
1956 I. Murdoch Flight from Enchanter i. 10 In her imagination Annette had always reached her objective by a flying leap from the High Table; but she could see now that this was not a very practical idea.
2001 Muzik Jan. 7/3 I always preferred DMs—much more practical for the muddy fields at Glastonbury.
c. Designating certain units (the ampere, volt, ohm, watt, coulomb, and farad) used for practical electrical measurements, as contrasted with the absolute units of the cgs system. They are now part of the International System of Units, and are less frequently designated by this name.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > [adjective] > relating to measurement > practical, not absolute
practical1873
1873 J. C. Maxwell Treat. Electr. & Magnetism II. iv. x. 244 The practical unit of electromotive force is called the Volt.
1882 Nature 24 Aug. 391/2 Instead of expressing electrical quantities directly in absolute measure, the [International Electrical] Congress has embodied a consistent system, based on the Ohm, in which the units are of a value convenient for practical measurements. In this, which we must hereafter know as the ‘practical system’, as distinguished from the ‘absolute system’, the units are named after leading physicists.
1904 Jrnl. Inst. Electr. Engineers 34 172 He suggested that the prefix ab or abs should be used with the names of the practical units (Volt, Ampere, Ohm, etc.) to form names for the corresponding C.G.S. electromagnetic units.
1932 London, Edinb., & Dublin Philos. Mag. 7th Ser. 14 292 The international system of [electrical] units differs but little from the practical system, and the two may be taken as identical for the present purpose.
1963 H. G. Jerrard & D. B. McNeill Dict. Sci. Units 13 The inconvenience of having three systems of electrical units, ab units, stat units and practical units has been overcome by the introduction of the metre, kilogramme, second, ampere units (M.K.S.). In this system, the practical units have the same value as the theoretical ones.
1995 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 448 201 This suggests that in a gravitational theory without other physical interactions the particles must be of mass (3.1), which in ordinary practical units is about 10−5 g.
d. Theatre and Film. Of props or scenery: operable, functional, real, as opposed to purely decorative or sham. Cf. practicable adj. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > theatrical equipment or accessories > [adjective] > relating to scenery > type of scenery
practicable1837
practical1894
constructional1924
1894 G. A. Sala Things I have Seen II. xiii. 121 The scene wound up with a great concert of ‘practical’ cats [sc. actors dressed as cats] on the roof, whose diabolical moll-rowings still ring in my ears.
1929 H. Carter New Spirit in Russ. Theatre, 1917–28 vi. 77 Meierhold took the windmill in which the Cuckold lived in the French version of the play, and broke it up into a skeleton structure consisting of gangways, ladders, bars, swinging doors, gates, revolving wheels and other practical and symbolical parts.
1933 P. Godfrey Back-stage iv. 47 His [sc. the stage-carpenter's] doors and windows never open unless he has been told to make them ‘practical’.
1950 W. J. Friederich & J. H. Frazer Scenery Amateur Stage Gloss. 249 Practical, usable, according to all the functions which the object's appearance leads one to expect. Thus a window which actually opens is a practical window.
1972 A. Bennett Getting On Props. list 66 Television set, practical, connected to videotape machine off stage.
2003 Guardian (Nexis) 3 May (Guide Suppl.) 39 The simplicity lies in using the clutter of everyday life—brooms and boots, bins and bags—as both practical props and inspiration for dance routines and percussive inventions.
2. † b. Actively engaged in; active, busy. Obsolete.† c. Practised, experienced, versed in. Obsolete.
a. Actually engaged in the practice of some occupation; practising, working.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > working > [adjective]
practical1762
1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alphabet. Practicall, practising.
1762 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. i. iii. 22 Experience has led the practical farmers into the opinion, that these things are the food of plants.
1788 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) II. 546 Of all this, the practical iron men are much better judges than we theorists.
1798 in Trans. Soc. Promotion Useful Information (1801) 257 Any discovery which may tend to secure a crop of this valuable grain from the accidents and ravages, to which, in its infant state, it is peculiarly liable, must be highly interesting to practical farmers, and pleasing to this society.
1827 Westm. Rev. 7 294 Had Mongolfier not been a practical man as well as a philosopher.
1866 Rural Amer. (Utica, N.Y.) 1 Aug. 230/3 Mr. Cavanach, who is a practical horticulturist and pomologist..thinks the Russell's Prolific and Green's Seedling are..equal..to any other variety.
1916 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 2 July 2/3 Mr. McDonald, who is a practical miner, is certain of election.
1977 Ann. Internal Med. 86 242/1 What is considered sarcoidosis by practical physicians might better be termed noncaseating granulomatous disease.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > [adjective]
busylOE
sisela1400
importune1449
busied1576
resiant1583
pragmatical1590
doing1591
negotiated1604
practical1617
affairé1802
operative1816
occupied1897
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 289 They are most practicall in all kinds of businesse.
1641 E. Dering Coll. Speeches on Relig. (1642) 9 There is..scarce any of them, who is not practicall in their owne great cause in hand.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. viii. 19 A man so buried in the speculations of School-Divinity, that it unactiv'd him to be practical in persecution.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adjective] > skilled or experienced
oldOE
well-usedc1300
experientc1420
way-wisea1460
pertly1466
practica1522
perite1530
well-practised1539
well-experienced1541
practised1548
experienced1576
veteran1624
practical1632
well-seasoned1640
seasoneda1643
callent1656
versant1766
used1786
salted1864
roteda1901
shell-backed1930
1632 Statutes St. Benedict iii. iii. 16 The Abbesse may not lett any possessions of the Monastery, without the consent of the Conuent, whom shee must in forme how much they yeald yearely, and what the opinion of those that are most practicall in such affayres is here in.
1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 108 A Traveller..that hath given us good Discourse, and he speaks as though he were practical in things.
3. Of a person: inclined to or concerned with action as opposed to speculation; having knowledge or skills derived from practice rather than theory; (hence) sensible, realistic, and capable in dealing with situations.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > [adjective] > inclined to action
practical1605
the world > action or operation > doing > [adjective] > of demonstration
practical1605
the world > action or operation > doing > [adjective] > as opposed to theoretical > knowledgeable or skilled in practical application
mechanical1570
practical1605
the world > action or operation > advantage > expediency > expedience > [adjective] > pragmatic or practical
practical1605
untheoretic1809
rough and ready1849
no-nonsense1853
pragmatic1853
untranscendental1865
hard-boiled1884
pragmatical1896
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning 65 Remote and superficiall Generalities, doe but offer Knowledge, to scorne of practicall men. View more context for this quotation
1621 S. Ward Life of Faith iv. 18 There wants a practicall Luther which should deale by Faith as Socrates by Phylosophie, who brought it out of the Skies and Bookes into Cities and Houses.
1667 M. Locke in C. Simpson Compendium A v b We poor Practical men, who doe, because we doe (as they are pleas'd to censure us).
1728 J. Gay Beggar's Opera ii. i. 19 Where shall we find such another Set of practical Philosophers, who to a Man are above the Fear of Death?
1789 T. Jefferson Let. 6 Sept. in Papers (1958) XV. 396 To prove to every practical man that a law of limited duration is much more manageable than one which needs a repeal.
1844 A. P. Stanley Life & Corr. T. Arnold I. iv. 187 He remained eminently practical to the end of his life.
1845 B. Disraeli Sybil I. i. iii. 47 The English..being a practical people, it is possible that they might have achieved their object and yet retained their native princes.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) I. Introd. 76 The practical man, who relies on his own experience.
1930 J. Buchan Castle Gay iv. 69 The practical Dougal had his mind on business.
1956 R. Macaulay Towers of Trebizond x. 104/5 She thinks she is practical, a woman of business, but no, she is a woman of dreams.
1987 J. Diski Rainforest ii. 26 She left that to the philosophers and went about her work as a practical scientist.
2005 D. Nicholls Understudy 137 Romance embarrassed her, and Owen was just being practical.
4. That is such in practice or conduct (as distinguished from belief or theory); that is such in effect, though not nominally or professedly so; so nearly the case that it can be regarded as so; virtual.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > intrinsicality or inherence > essence or intrinsic nature > [adjective] > that is so in essence or virtual
virtualc1443
practic1604
practical1642
practicous1683
1642 T. Fuller Holy State v. vii. 387 In a word, if he was not a practicall Atheist, I know not who was.
1650 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis 131 For men..to labour to extirpate..the Beard..is a practical blasphemy.
1720 D. Waterland 8 Serm. Divinity of Christ Pref. 36 They do by..Implication, tho' not in Intention, make two supreme Gods; and consequently are practical Ditheists.
1796 J. Malham (title) A word for the Bible: being a serious reply to the declarations and assertions of the speculative deists and practical atheists of modern times.
1836 J. Gilbert Christian Atonem. vii. 268 To suspend a law, is, in that instance, to exercise a practical veto against its being law.
1882 E. A. Freeman Lect. Amer. Audiences ii. v. 390 The great advantage of our practical republic over your avowed republic.
1931 V. A. Demant This Unemployment i. 15 The atmosphere of acquiescence..is the most fruitful breeding-ground of practical atheism.
1990 G. Vidal View from Diner's Club (1993) 99 If you had no recollection of any previous incarnations, what was the point? For all practical purposes the first carnation was extinct when it died.
5. That practises art or craft; crafty, scheming, artful. Cf. practic adj. 3, practice n. 5, 8. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective] > in contrivance or machination
politic1543
practical1563
fetching1570
driftyc1571
Machiavellian1572
stratagematical1583
stratagemical1585
stratagematic1589
drifting1596
enterprising1602
Machiavelline1602
practitional1602
engineering1631
polititious1638
Machiavellic1645
designing1661
intriguing1790
manoeuvring1801
systematizing1827
scheming1838
1563 J. Foxe Actes & Monuments 1332/2 Not only perceiuing theyr practicall proceadynges, but also muche greued wt their troublesome vnquietnes.
B. n.
1. With the. That which is practical; the practical aspects of a topic, study, discipline, etc.
ΚΠ
a1500 ( G. Ripley Compend of Alchemy (Ashm.) l. 1783 (MED) Yff yu conseyue the theorycall & praktycall by fygurs &..be scrypturs pleyne..yu cannot werke in veyne.
1680 tr. P. Nicole Moral Ess. i. ii. 75 To establish..never to follow in the practical any of those opinions favourable to the inclination of Nature, and which are condemned by able men.
1844 N. Hawthorne Artist of Beautiful in U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. June 608/1 Ideas which grow up within the imagination, and appear so lovely to it..are exposed to be shattered and annihilated by contact with the Practical.
1865 H. James in N. Amer. Rev. July 209 Criticism has no concern with the practical.
1877 W. Sparrow Serm. xix. 254 When..we are compelled..to make a choice between the speculative and the practical we should give preference to the latter.
1948 R. W. Chapman Lexicogr. 15 Sir James Murray added to his linguistic acumen and his tireless industry..a Scotsman's hard, keen sense of the practical.
1981 Dict. National Biogr. 1961–70 193/1 He had to an extraordinary degree the ability to reconcile the ideal with the practical.
1993 Albuquerque (New Mexico) Jrnl. 25 Jan. (Business Outlook Suppl.) 30/1 The wonders of modern electronics sometimes straddle the line between the practical and the wacky.
2. † a. In plural. Practical matters; points of practice. Obsolete.† b. colloquial. A practical joke; a trick. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [noun] > a habit or practice > collectively
gearsc1200
ways1628
practicals1640
the world > action or operation > advantage > expediency > expedience > [noun] > pragmatism or practicality > practical matters or a practical matter
practicals1640
practic1748
practicalities1839
pragmatics1937
1640 O. Sedgwick Christs Counsell 258 In speculatives be wise to sobriety, in practicals be as good as thou canst.
1649 F. Roberts Clavis Bibliorum (ed. 2) Introd. to Rdr. ii. 31 How in Practicals, They Direct in wel-doing.
1653 G. Ashwell Fides Apostolica 20 Credenda, as opposed to the Agenda, or Practicalls of Christianity.
1714 G. Meldrum Danger of Popery Discovered 34 These of the Romish Popish Church..have..corrupted the very Morals and Practicals of Religion.
1766 Christian's Mag. Apr. 201 As to eligibility of practicals; what is to be done, or not done.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [noun] > a trick, deception
wrenchc888
swikec893
braida1000
craftOE
wile1154
crookc1175
trokingc1175
guile?c1225
hocket1276
blink1303
errorc1320
guileryc1330
sleightc1340
knackc1369
deceitc1380
japec1380
gaudc1386
syllogism1387
mazec1390
mowa1393
train?a1400
trantc1400
abusionc1405
creekc1405
trickc1412
trayc1430
lirtc1440
quaint?a1450
touch1481
pawka1522
false point?1528
practice1533
crink1534
flim-flamc1538
bobc1540
fetcha1547
abuse1551
block1553
wrinklec1555
far-fetch?a1562
blirre1570
slampant1577
ruse1581
forgery1582
crank1588
plait1589
crossbite1591
cozenage1592
lock1598
quiblin1605
foist1607
junt1608
firk1611
overreach?1615
fob1622
ludification1623
knick-knacka1625
flam1632
dodge1638
gimcrack1639
fourbe1654
juggle1664
strategy1672
jilt1683
disingenuity1691
fun1699
jugglementa1708
spring1753
shavie1767
rig?1775
deception1794
Yorkshire bite1795
fakement1811
fake1829
practical1833
deceptivity1843
tread-behind1844
fly1861
schlenter1864
Sinonism1864
racket1869
have1885
ficelle1890
wheeze1903
fast one1912
roughie1914
spun-yarn trick1916
fastie1931
phoney baloney1933
fake-out1955
okey-doke1964
mind-fuck1971
1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log xxiii, in Blackwood's Mag. Aug. 156/2 Give over your practicals, Lucifer.
c. An examination or lesson in which theories and procedures learned are applied to the actual making or doing of something.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > teaching > means of teaching > [noun] > practical lesson
practicum1874
practical1934
society > education > educational administration > examination > [noun] > practical examination
practical1934
1934 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Practical, an examination involving practice.
1955 School Sci. Rev. Nov. 38 Of over 300 who passed the theory, only 7 failed the practical.
1961 Times 6 Nov. 14/2 Lieutenant Babington, straight out from England to take over a platoon..seems to have failed his practicals where discipline is concerned.
1979 F. Olbrich Sweet & Deadly xi. 125 He would get through this damned exam if it was the last thing he did... There would still be the practicals, of course.
1990 A. Beevor Inside Brit. Army xxv. 307 They do their ‘practicals’ on improvised explosive devices, the Army's term for terrorist bombs.
d. Theatre and Film. Props or scenery which are actually functional and not merely representations. Cf. A. 1d.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > theatrical equipment or accessories > [noun] > props > types of
stock-gold1713
profile stage property1854
slapstick1896
custard pie1915
practical1952
tickling stick1969
1952 W. Granville Dict. Theatr. Terms 140 Practical, anything that works on the stage. Door handles that turn; windows that open; light switches that are connected with the main switchboard and can be turned on by the artiste..anything not purely ornamental in a stage setting.
1960 O. Skilbeck ABC of Film & TV Working Terms 108 Re-vamp, to use an existing set for further shooting by altering it and adapting its practicals for another sequence.
2005 Entertainment Design (Nexis) 1 Aug. 12 Many of the practicals used on the set, for car and airplane headlights, and for a star curtain, used white, high-temperature LEDs that could be dimmed.
3. In plural. Practical people; people concerned with practice or doing practical things.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > [noun] > one who acts or does > as opposed to theoretical > collectively
practicals1840
1737 M. Green Spleen 19 That tribe, whose practicals decree, Small-beer the deadliest heresy.
1836 J. S. Mill in London & Westm. Rev. Oct. 15 The practicals would endeavour to determine this question by a direct induction.
1840 J. S. Mill Diss. & Disc. (1859) I. 44 The Practicals never heard of it; or if they had they disdained it as visionary theory.
1942 Frederick (Maryland) Post 16 Nov. 5/6 (advt.) Wanted..practicals. Undergraduates..Plenty work.
1990 R. C. Tucker Stalin in Power xxi. 588 The Terror had wrought such havoc in the economy that..the Magnitogorsk works..had to rely on 364 mere ‘practicals’ (workers without special training) to take the places of the qualified people it lacked.
Compounds
C1. Parasynthetic.
practical-headed adj.
ΚΠ
1876 Galaxy June 740/1 He is a fairly shrewd, practical-headed young fellow.
1942 Jrnl. Hist. Ideas 3 306 The shrewd observations of this practical-headed man, anticipating Bentham's by two centuries..complete the circuit of ideological developments in the Western European concept of usury.
2003 Jrnl. Scholarly Publishing 34 191 McKenzie notes the structuralist bar that seems to separate the practical-headed Anglo-American school of analytical bibliographers from their more reflective and..‘theoretical’ colleagues across the Channel.
practical-minded adj.
ΚΠ
1840 C. F. Hoffman Greyslaer II. iii. ii. 111 The stern realities of life which he had beheld..had long since changed Max Greyslaer from a dreaming student into a practical-minded, energetic man.
1906 Daily Chron. 14 Apr. 4/6 The practical-minded makers of modern Egypt.
2001 Mod. Philol. 99 14 Even the practical-minded Lady MacBeth recognizes her husband's problem as one of thought, not action.
C2.
practical activity n. social practice, esp. as the medium through which theory is realized and becomes actual.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > doing > [noun] > realizing theory
practical activity1913
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > pragmatism > [noun] > praxeology > elements of
practical activity1913
pragmatization1948
praxis1953
1913 D. Ainslie tr. B. Croce Philos. of Pract. ii. i. 173 (heading) The practical activity [It. attività pratica] in its dialectic.
1963 T. B. Bottomore tr. K. Marx Early Writings 52 The criticism of the speculative philosophy of right does not remain within its own sphere, but leads on to tasks which can only be solved by means of practical activity [Ger. Praxis].
2002 Oxf. Rev. Educ. 28 314 The cultural historical legacy of the production of tools/artefacts through practical activity in turn leads to the transformation of practice through the subsequent use of those tools.
practical attitude n. an attitude that is concerned with material facts and actual events.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > pragmatism > [noun] > elements of
practice?a1425
practical attitude1853
1853 New Englander (New Haven, Connecticut) 11 42 On the points of the co-working of God and the sinner in the matter of faith, and of the practical attitude which the sinner must take, as dependent yet striving, Mr. Clarke is orthodox and even highly Calvinistic.
1902 W. James Varieties Relig. Experience xi. 261 Our moral and practical attitude, at any given time, is always a resultant of two sets of forces within us.
2005 Toronto Star (Nexis) 5 June n17 There is more to a rural lifestyle than pristine meadows and babbling brooks; there is a practical attitude in country design and decoration.
practical-based adj. designating training, esp. in a scientific or technical discipline, based on lessons in which theories and procedures learned are applied to the actual making or doing of something.
ΚΠ
1984 J. J. McGee et al. Internat. Handbk. Community Services for Mentally Retarded 153 In these models there is considerable need for a ‘practical’ based training.
1997 New Scientist 19 Apr. 94/2 (advt.) Theoretical and practical based tuition covers a wide range of topics fundamental to toxicology: cell and tissue biology..teratogenesis.
practical criticism n. an analytical approach to literary criticism first developed by I. A. Richards, in which literary texts are viewed as autonomous and, isolated from any literary, historical, or biographical context, subjected to close reading (cf. New Criticism n.); (also more generally) close reading of literary texts.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > literary and textual criticism > literary criticism > [noun] > types of literary criticism
criticism1625
critical theory1799
literary theory1807
autocriticism1820
pseudo-criticism1851
Formgeschichte1923
form-criticism1928
form-history1928
practical criticism1929
New Criticism1941
contextualism1955
patternism1956
objectivism1961
narratology1971
new historicism1972
deconstruction1973
post-structuralism1975
deconstructionism1980
theory1982
1817 S. T. Coleridge Biogr. Literaria II. xv. 13 In the application of these principles to purposes of practical criticism as employed in the appraisal of works more or less imperfect, I have endeavoured to discover what the qualities of a poem are.]
1929 I. A. Richards (title) Practical criticism: a study of literary judgment.
1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 24 Apr. 241/3 It is not merely criticism; it is ‘practical criticism’ of a high order and of a kind which is too rarely found in France.
1997 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 26 June 32/3 His work was distinguished by the close reading of texts or selected passages, in a manner that was partly influenced by the ‘practical criticism’ of I. A. Richards.
practical joke n. a trick, prank, or hoax played upon someone in order to make that person look foolish and amuse others.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > [noun] > a trick, prank, hoax
pratOE
mowa1393
pageant?c1430
jimp?1572
prank1576
jest1578
jig1592
frump1593
trick1605
bilk1664
fun1699
plisky1706
humbug1750
hum1751
practical joke1751
marlock1763
quiz1795
practical joke1804
skite1804
hoax1808
skit1815
wrinkle1817
rusty1835
funny business1838
string1851
stringer1851
cod1862
mank1865
spoof1889
leg-pull1893
rannygazoo1896
shenanigan1926
gotcha1967
to throw a fastball1968
wind-up1984
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle I. ii. 13 Mr. Hatchway's wit display'd itself in several practical jokes upon the commodore, with whom, he knew, it was dangerous to tamper in any other way.
1826 Lancet 22 July 525/2 A very sensible custom prevails in this hospital, compelling every young gentleman..to undergo the penalty of every variety of the ‘practical joke;’ such as stealing his hat..and of being pasquinaded in all manner of ways.
1940 Amer. Boy Feb. 10/2 Just keep an eye on that Paddy Fallon, Maggie, and if he starts any of his practical jokes, tip me.
2003 Observer 23 Nov. (Mag.) 80/4 It could have been a practical joke. I rather hope not, practical jokes being to humour what line dancing is to the Olympics.
practical nurse n. (a) a nurse experienced in the practicalities of nursing; (b) North American a nurse who has no academic qualification, and so cannot be registered, but has been trained in nursing practice and may be licensed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > healer > nurse > [noun] > registered nurse > non-registered
practical nurse1871
1871 (title) School epidemics, especially scarlet fever. By a practical nurse.
1921 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 1 Oct. 16/2 (advt.) Situations Wanted—Female..experienced practical nurse, terms moderate.
1956 K. Hulme Nun's Story vii. 104 Our practical nurses..can stand only a four-hour shift, but our sisters take unlimited duty.
1979 W. Kienzle Rosary Murders 20 One of the orderlies and one of the practical nurses..had enjoyed a quick roll in bed.
1995 Toronto Star 24 Feb. sc8 They allege the mass layoffs are part of a province-wide union-busting trend in health care that will replace $27-an-hour registered nurses with less qualified $14-an-hour practical nurses.
practical nurse v. North American (rare) transitive to attend (a patient) as a practical nurse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > art or science of medicine > practice of healing art > practise the healing art [verb (transitive)] > tend the sick > as practical nurse
practical nurse1971
1971 ‘A. Blaisdell’ Pract. to Deceive v. 68 Mrs. Carstairs would be back from practical-nursing her sister.
practical nursing n. (a) the manual tasks involved in nursing; the way such tasks are organized; (b) North American the occupation of a practical nurse (as distinct from a registered one).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > art or science of medicine > practice of healing art > [noun] > tending the sick > as a profession
nursing1859
practical nursing1885
1885 J. Ilbert (title) Six lectures on practical nursing.
1947 (title) Practical nursing. An analysis of the practical nurse occupation.
1964 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 24 Apr. (1970) 118 To my great delight we..saw a class in practical nursing, and I told them that the world was certainly waiting for their skills.
1994 Canad. Woman Stud. Fall 87/2 Ida graduated from a practical nursing program and worked at Whitehorse General Hospital for 12 years.
practical politician n. a politician who is in touch with practical issues or can deliver practical solutions.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > politician > [noun] > concerned with specific types or branches
practical politician1770
politico religionist1809
professional politician1839
theopolitician1867
world politician1898
Realpolitiker1913
power-politician1917
geopolitician1934
1770 C. Macaulay Observ. on Pamphlet 14 A consummate piece of indiscretion, which nothing could make us believe practical politicians to be guilty of.
1896 Dict. National Biogr. XLV. 392/1 Place was more successful as a practical politician. He was no speaker..but he was untiring in..drafting petitions, collecting subscriptions [etc.].
1991 in B. MacArthur Despatches from Gulf War 44 The blame must not be allowed to stop at the Sun, the prime minister and his exultant predecessor. The Modern Empiricists, the ‘practical politicians’, the ‘sensible’ journalists are every bit as responsible.
practical politics n. what actually takes place or is possible in political life; (also) = Realpolitik n.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > [noun] > political actions or practice > types of
practical politics1709
theopolitics1736
Realpolitik1872
shirtsleeve (also shirtsleeves) diplomacy1896
power politics1901
armed response1904
politricks1908
Machtpolitik1916
power play1941
telepolitics1958
marketization1961
gender politics1977
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 69. 1/2 He can..distinguish between Chimærical and Practical Politicks.
1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey I. ii. xv. 217 ‘Hargrave,’ said his lordship, ‘if you want any information upon points of practical politics’—that was his phrase..‘there is only one man in the kingdom whom you should consult..and that's Stapylton Toad.’
1897 Daily News 24 July 5/2 Practical politics is to do what you can, and not what you ought.
1919 F. Hamilton Vanished Pomps i. 30 As the inventor of ‘Practical Politics’ (Real Politik), Bismarck had a supreme contempt for fluent talkers and for words.
1939 I. Berlin Karl Marx iv. 74 It was his [sc. Marx's] first experience of practical politics: he conducted his paper with immense vigour and intolerance.
2003 National Art Coll. Fund Rev. 2002 90/2 Balfour's air of aristocratic aloofness hid a subtle, penetrating mind combined with a keen grasp of practical politics.
practical theology n. (a) the application of theology to practical questions and problems; theology put into practice; (b) the theology of action or praxis.
ΚΠ
1670 S. Gott Divine Hist. Genesis World 13 The Practical Theology of Scripture hath been by none better Ventilated then by English Divines.]
1701 N. Grew Cosmol. Sacra iv. viii. 267 All the means which the Egyptians made use of hitherto, in the Cure of Diseases..were to be referred entirely to their Practical Theology..of which their Magical Medicine was a principal part.
1777 (title) Sentimental and practical theology.
1874 J. Duncan Pulpit & Commun. Table 73 Polemical theology is the defence, Practical theology the application, of Dogmatic theology, which again rests upon Exegetical.
1915 C. M. Sears Fruitlands ii. 31 The Northampton Community is one of industry, the one at Hopedale aims at practical theology, this of Roxbury is one of taste.
1976 F. McDonagh tr. W. Pannenberg Theol. & Philos. of Sci. ii. vi. 434 Practical theology must therefore deal with ‘the sense of meaning which underlies action in the context of the Christian life-world’.
2005 Guardian (Nexis) 28 July 27 In 1958, he became professor of practical theology and Christian ethics at St Andrews University and held this post for 29 years.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
adj.n.?a1425