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.)
| 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. 8 It is accounted an errour, to commit a naturall bodie to Emperique Phisitions. a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Jas. V Wks. (1711) 90 This empyrick balm could the French apply to cure the wounds of the Scottish common-wealth. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 440 By fire Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchimist Can turn..Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold. a 1700 Dryden (L.), Bold counsels..Like empirick remedies..last are try'd. 1787 Phil. Trans. LXXVII. 43 They are only empiric, and not founded upon the theory and principles of gravitation. 1815 Scribbleomania 76 Empiric pigmies may prate about straws. 1877 E. 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.
| 1541 R. Copland Galyen's Terap. 2 G ij, The whiche thynge the Emperykes vnderstande by onely experyence. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 344 Another faction and sect of Physitians, who..called themselues Empiriques. 1605 Timme Quersit. Pref. 5 Among Physitians there are Empericks, Dogmaticks, Methodici, or Abbreuiators, and Paracelsians. 1738 J. Keill Anim. Œcon. Pref. 30 The Doctrine of the Empiricks, which despises all Reasoning. 1805 Med. 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.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens vi. vi. 665 Broomrape is counted of some empiriques (or practisioners)..for an excellent medicine. 1613 R. C. Table Alph. (ed. 3), Emperick, he that hath all his skill in phisicke by practise. 1858 Robertson Lect. i. 11 A mere empiric in political legislation. 1873 Hale In His Name viii. 65 The Florentine would be called only an empiric by the science of to-day. 1877 E. Caird Philos. Kant v. 100 The animals are pure empirics. |
2. An untrained practitioner in physic or surgery; a quack.
| [1527 Andrew Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters O j, Than came there an onlerned Empyricus.] 1562 W. Bullein Bk. Simples 68 b, One called Edwardes, a doltish impericke. 1601 Shakes. All's Well ii. i. 125 We must not corrupt our hope, To prostitute our past-cure malladie To empericks. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. i. iv. i, There be many mountebanks, quack-salvers, Empericks, in every street. a 1764 Lloyd Ep. C. Churchill Poet Wks. 1774 I. 85 Quack and Critic differ but in name. Empirics frontless both, they mean the same. 1806 Med. Jrnl. XV. 369 Bone setters are another set of empirics. 1835 Browning Paracelsus 164 They are hooting the empiric, The ignorant and incapable fool. |
b. transf. A pretender, impostor, charlatan.
| 1640 Quarles Enchirid. iv. lxxxix, Hee that beleeves with an implicite Faith, is a meere Empricke in Religion. 1670 Eachard Cont. Clergy 22 A disesteemed pettifogger, or empyrick in divinity. 1777 W. Dalrymple Trav. Sp. & Port. cxii, The Bishop, supreme empiric, heals the minds and cures the consciences..by the same prescription. 1817 Coleridge 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.
| 1620 Melton Astrolog. 9 He delivered this Emperike like Oration. a 1700 Dryden (J.), The illiterate writer, emp'rick like applies To each disease..chance remedies. |