empiric

C2+ Topic:Science & Research

US /ɪmˈpɪrɪk/ UK /ɪmˈpɪrɪk/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
one who relies on observation or experiment; an unqualified practitioner

The cautious empiric trusted only what his own trials could show.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · one who relies on... empiricist quack charlatan experimenter observer

Opposites

theorist rationalist

Word family

Forms empirics

Derived forms empirical empiricism empirically

Related forms empirical experience experiment

Etymology

From Latin empiricus, from Ancient Greek empeirikós ('experienced, skilled by experience'), from empeiría ('experience'), from en- ('in') + peîra ('trial, attempt'); originally applied to a sect of physicians relying on observation rather than theory.

empeirikós Ancient Greek peîra Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Science & Research Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# empiric

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪmˈpɪrɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪmˈpɪrɪk/

## Meanings
1. one who relies on observation or experiment; an unqualified practitioner

## Examples
- The cautious empiric trusted only what his own trials could show.

## Synonyms
- empiricist
- quack
- charlatan
- experimenter
- observer

## Antonyms
- theorist
- rationalist

## Derived Forms
- empirical
- empiricism
- empirically

## Related Forms
- empirical
- experience
- experiment

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: empeirikós
- Root: peîra

## Etymology
From Latin empiricus, from Ancient Greek empeirikós ('experienced, skilled by experience'), from empeiría ('experience'), from en- ('in') + peîra ('trial, attempt'); originally applied to a sect of physicians relying on observation rather than theory.

## AI Etymology
Empiric comes from Latin empiricus, from Ancient Greek empeirikós ('experienced, skilled by experience'), from empeiría ('experience'), from en- ('in') + peîra ('trial, attempt'); originally applied to a sect of physicians relying on observation rather than theory. The etymological trail includes Ancient Greek empeirikós and Ancient Greek peîra. As a noun, empiric names one who relies on observation or experiment; an unqualified practitioner. The same family is visible in derived forms such as empirical, empiricism, and empirically and related forms such as empirical, experience, and experiment. The analysis is partly morphological, with the modern form built from the elements named in the history.

## Topics
- Science & Research
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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