[f. prec. sb.]
† 1. trans. To have experience of; to experience; to feel, suffer. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Æsop, 3. And these thynges sene and experymented Esope retourned to his labour.
1503. Sheph. Kalender, lii. He shall … experyment evill fortunes.
a. 1577. Gascoigne, Wks. (1587), Ep., But a man of middle yeares who hath to his cost experimented the vanities of youth.
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, I. xxv. 44. Having so often experimented his juggling.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. iii. 7 Paraphr. 22–3. Thy fatherly mercy … so often experimented by me.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., I. viii. 86. Having experimented the Turkish wholesom Chastisements of plundring and bastonading.
† 2. To ascertain or establish by trial (a fact, the existence of anything, etc.). Also with obj. and compl. inf., and with sentence as obj. Obs.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., I. v. 22. Til they had experimented whiche was trewe, and who knewe most.
1561. Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 27 a. Thys helpeth very well and is experimented.
1564. Haward, Eutropius, II. 19. They had … experimented that they wer of great force upon the sea.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., A iiij. The greater part whereof we haue allready experimented to be accomplished in these our dayes.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. III. 50. This I … experimented by exposing a couple of Goats to the Asperity thereof.
1755. B. Martin, Mag. Arts & Sc., III. xi. 381. That may be easily experimented in a small Bird.
1812. Southey, Omniana, I. 258. What is more wonderful, and … may be experimented every day.
† 3. To make an experiment upon, make trial of, test, try. Obs.
1524. Wolsey, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. App. xii. 24. The said Viceroy [of Naples] wolde … experiment batail with the said French King.
1558. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr. (1568), 42 a. The pouder that was experimented in England.
1594. Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits (1616), 181. In experimenting of medicines, hee should kill an infinit number of persons.
1692. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 559. Yesterday the duke of Leinster’s engine for working of wrecks was experimented on the Thames.
1703. T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 91. I could very well experiment the strength of Mortar.
1766. Entick, London, I. 309. Several articles were proposed to be experimented, and if found good and useful, to be confirmed.
4. intr. To make an experiment or experiments. Const. on; also in indirect passive.
1787. W. Marshall, Norfolk, I. 366. The laudable spirit of experimenting.
1837. Goring & Pritchard, Microgr., 193. A person who has experimented with a reflector.
1857. Kingsley, Th. in Gravel-pit, Misc. II. 388. The more I experiment … the more unexpected puzzles and wonders I find.
1880. Richardson, in Med. Temp. Jrnl., 72. To compel those experimented on to abide by the definition.
