empiric
[em-pir-ik]
- a person who follows an empirical method.
- a quack; charlatan.
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Origin of empiric
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for empiric
Contemporary Examples
The count considered Lincoln an “honest man of nature, perhaps an empiric, doctoring with innocent juices from herbs.”
Historical Examples
He appears to prefer the empiric method in love as in philosophy.
Tales From Two HemispheresHjalmar Hjorth Boysen
Cherokee medicine is an empiric development of the fetich idea.
The Sacred Formulas of the CherokeesJames Mooney
No institutions or principles are spared its empiric handling.
The CollectorHenry T. Tuckerman
He was by no means an empiric, as some were whom Charles II.
A History of Epidemics in Britain, Volume II (of 2)Charles Creighton
He re-told the insult put upon himself in the epithet of empiric.
The Sunset TrailAlfred Henry Lewis
empiric
- a person who relies on empirical methods
- a medical quack; charlatan
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- a variant of empirical
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin empīricus, from Greek empeirikos practised, from peiran to attempt
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for empiric
adj.
c.1600, from Latin empiricus "a physician guided by experience," from Greek empeirikos "experienced," from empeiria "experience," from empeiros "skilled," from en "in" (see en- (2)) + peira "trial, experiment," from PIE *per- "to try, risk." Originally a school of ancient physicians who based their practice on experience rather than theory. Earlier as a noun (1540s) in reference to the sect, and earliest (1520s) in a sense "quack doctor" which was in frequent use 16c.-19c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
empiric
(ĕm-pîr′ĭk)- One who is guided by practical experience rather than precepts or theory.
- An unqualified or dishonest practitioner; a charlatan.
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- Empirical.
- Relating to a school of ancient Greek medicine in which a physician relied on experience and precedent in the observation and treatment of disease, and on analogical reasoning in discovering new diseases.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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