a. and sb. [f. as prec. + -AL.] A. adj.
I. Relating to experience.
† 1. a. Of a witness: Having actual or personal experience of anything. b. Of things: Coming within the range of experience; observed. Obs.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., IV. iv. 448. The same hool noumbre of homeli and experimental witnessers of Cristis deedis.
1620. Melton, Astrolog., 29. It is vncerteine whether the experimentall effect is to be ascribed to this or that planet.
1704. Newton, Opticks, III. (1721), 364–5. We have no other Evidence of universal Impenetrability, besides a large Experience, without an experimental Exception.
1749–51. Bp. Lavington, Enthus. Method. & Papists (1754), II. 218. Of this he himself is an experimental Witness.
2. a. Based on or derived from experience as opposed to mere testimony or conjecture. † Of a remedy: Discovered by experience. b. Founded on experience only; empirical.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 46 b. Experymentall knowlege of the heuenly lyfe to come.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, IV. i. 168. Trust not my reading, nor my obseruations, Which with experimental seal dothe warrant The tenure of my booke.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 4. A certaine experimentall vnguent, knowne to bee practised in this sport, made of the Oyle pressed out of vvilde Radish.
1634. W. Wood (title), Nevv Englands Prospect. A true, lively, and experimentall description of that part of America, commonly called Nevv England.
1668. Excellency of Pen & Pencil, 46. An experimental Rule practised by the best Etcher in England.
1709. Berkeley, Th. Vision, § 72. Not a necessary but only an experimental connexion.
1869. Goulburn, Purs. Holiness, Pref. 10. To bring myself and others to an experimental knowledge of God.
1879. Keane, trans. Lefevre’s Philos., ii. 141. Aristotle never ceases to oppose science to experimental knowledge.
c. Experimental religion: practical experience of the influence of religion on the powers and operations of the soul. † Experimental divinity: the method of dealing with the conscience and religious feelings; so † experimental divine.
1614. Bp. Hall, Epist., I. vii. 408. The one excelled in experimentall diuinity; and knewe well how to stay a weake conscience, how to raise a fallen.
1658. Bp. L. Womock, Exam. Tilenus, 85. I was never much taken with those Obadiah’s … give me your experimentall Divines.
II. Relating to experiment.
3. Based on, derived from, or ascertained by experiment.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., c ij b. That, was rather a kinde of Experimentall demonstration.
1674. C. Goodall, College Phys. Vind. (1676), 89. Their experimental demonstrations of the circulation of the Chyle with the mass of blood.
1830. Sir J. Herschel, Stud. Nat. Phil., 73. Legislation and politics become gradually regarded as experimental sciences.
1881. Carpenter, in 19th Cent., 615. Experimental evidence has not yet … been obtained of the direct penetration of the solar rays to more than 100 fathoms.
b. Experimental Philosophy: (a) the philosophy that insists on experiment as the necessary foundation and test of all reasoned conclusions. (b) Physics or ‘natural philosophy’ as studied or demonstrated by means of experiments (now rare). So also, experimental chemistry, physics, science. Hence experimental philosopher, chemist, etc.
1651. G. Thomson (title), A vindication of Lord Bacon, the Auctor of Experimental Philosophy.
1665. Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., 68. All experimental Philosophers, have been needlessly imployed.
1706. S. Clarke, On the Evidences, Pref. A iij. The Honourable Robert Boyle Esq; was … diligent and successful in improving Experimental Philosophy.
1809. Med. Jrnl., XXI. 175. Lectures … at Guy’s Hospital … [on] Experimental Philosophy.
1819. Pantologia, Experimental Philosophy is an investigation of the wisdom of God in the works and laws of nature.
1871–2. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., II. 303. A physician and experimental chemist.
1887. J. Thomas, Dict. Biog., I. 421. Boyle … a celebrated chemist and experimental philosopher.
transf. 1796. Burke, Lett. Noble Ld., Wks. VIII. 55. As speculatists he [the Duke of Bedford] is a glorious subject for their experimental philosophy.
4. Of persons: Skilled in experiment. rare.
1811. Pinkerton, Petral., II. 421. A more candid and equitable judge cannot be invoked than the patient and experimental Saussure.
5. Of the nature of an experiment; tentative.
1818. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, I. I. i. 16. A first and experimental attempt.
1857. Ruskin, Pol. Econ. Art, 35. A young man’s work … may be more or less experimental.
6. Of or pertaining to experiments; used in or for making experiments.
1792. A. Young, Trav. France, 213. Signore Arduino … shewed me the experimental farm.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., Introd. 9. I have … received much useful experimental aid from Mr. E. Davy.
1869. Tyndall, in Fortn. Rev., 1 Feb., 236. The experimental tube now before you.
1881. N. Lockyer, in Nature, No. 617. 398. The spectrum of potassium … varies very much under different experimental conditions.
† B. sb. Obs. [The adj. used absol.]
a. A trial, an experiment. b. An experimental proof. c. A fact or datum of experience. d. pl. Things learned by experience; experimental or practical knowledge.
a. 1659. C. Noble, Moderate Answ. Immod. Queries, 1. Experimentals that have been made … what kind of Government would best go down.
b. 1664. Power, Exp. Philos., II. 130. Pre-demonstrate them, by calculation, before the Senses give an Experimental thereof.
c. 1628. T. Spencer, Logick, 5. Art is made, when as one vniversall thing, is framed out of many experimentalls.
1651. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., II. xl. (1739), 176. Whose Counsels are … Notionary, and grounded … not upon experimentals of most publick concernment.
d. 1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), III. 361. As to experimentals … a mere novice.
