a. and sb. [ad. late L. systēmaticus, a. late Gr. συστηματικός (both relating to systems of meters), f. σύστημα SYSTEM. Cf. F. systématique (1584).]
A. adj.
† 1. = next, 1 b. Obs. rare.
a. 1680. Glanvill, Serm. Luke xiii. 24, Disc., etc. (1681), 7. All this I must confess,… because Experience constrains me; and I do not know why Systematick Notions should sway more than that.
2. = next, 1. (Passing into sense 3.)
1725. Watts, Logic, II. iii. § 4 (1726), 219. Now we deal much in Essays, and most unreasonably despise systematic Learning.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 10. The first Arabian Systematic Works on Chemistry are said to have been composed by Geber.
a. 1821. V. Knox, Ess. Writing, Wks. 1824, I. 5. Systematic books of morality.
1830. Herschel, Study Nat. Phil., 110. The necessity of saying something learned and systematic, without knowing what to say.
1836. H. Rogers, J. Howe, ii. (1863), 21. Systematic theology … has … been of questionable benefit.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Swedenborg, Wks. (Bohn), I. 316. Swedenborg is systematic … in every sentence.
1865. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., i. 2. A systematic treatise on the subject.
3. gen. Arranged or conducted according to a system, plan, or organized method; involving or observing a system; (of a person) acting according to system, regular and methodical.
1790. Burke, Rev. France, 84. These gentlemen value themselves on being systematic. Ibid. (1796), Regic. Peace, ii. Wks. VIII. 244. The systematick proceedings of a Roman senate.
1833. Alison, Hist. Eur. (1849), III. xvii. § 18. 500. A systematic and uniform line of conduct.
1863. Lyell, Antiq. Man, i. 2. The facts brought to light … during the systematic investigation of the Brixham cave.
1867. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 273. He is very systematic with the luggage.
1910. Encycl. Brit., II. 28/2. Though it will occasionally take a large fly, a worm or other ground bait, its systematic capture is only essayed with small fish or artificial spinning-baits.
b. Qualifying nouns of action of unfavorable meaning: Carried out with a regularity such as to indicate intention or habitual action; regularly organized (for an evil purpose), or carried on as a regular (and reprehensible) practice. Also said of the agent.
1803. Brougham, Colon. Policy, I. 123. The house of Brandenburg seized this opportunity of prosecuting the systematic views of unprincipled aggrandisement, which have presided over its councils since the name of Prussia was known in Europe.
1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., I. vi. 163. The systematic intrigues of the Papal Court.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. iv. 195. After so many years of systematic devastation.
1874. L. Stephen, Hours in Libr. (1892), I. iii. 106. Pope … was a systematic appropriator … of other men’s thoughts.
1874. Green, Short Hist., viii. § 3. 489. They turned religion into a systematic attack on English liberty.
4. Nat. Hist., etc. Pertaining to, following, or arranged according to a system of classification; of or pertaining to classification, classificatory. Also of a writer: Composing or adhering to a system of classification.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), I. 23. The distinctive Characters, and systematic Arrangement, of Earths and Stones.
1800. Shaw (title), General Zoology or Systematic Natural History.
1829. T. Castle, Introd. Bot., 12. Endeavouring to perfect systematic botany.
1835. J. Duncan, Beetles (Nat. Lib.), 86. Beetles … such as burrow in the earth,… (the Geodephagi of some modern systematic writers).
1839. Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, I. Suppl. 11. Trigla lyra, the systematic name of our English Piper Gurnard.
1863. Huxley, Man’s Place Nat., ii. 102/3. This is a very noteworthy circumstance … but it has little systematic value.
5. Consisting of systems of heavenly bodies. rare.
1829. Chapters Phys. Sci., 415. Those numerous hosts of systematic universes.
6. = SYSTEMIC 1 b. rare.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VII. 3. The ‘systematic’ lesions [of myelitis].
B. sb. 1. Nat. Hist., etc. A systematist.
1771. T. Percival, Ess. (1777), I. 9. Salt, sulphur, acrimonies, caustics, volatiles, ferments,… have each … by different systematics, been received as the … principia morborum.
1788. J. Brown, trans. Elem. Med., I. 287, note. Nothing is more artificial and arbitrary than the arrangements either of Systematics or Nosologists.
2. pl. Systematics [see -IC 2]: the subject or study of systems, esp. of classification.
1888. Nature, 20 Dec., 177/2. Huxley’s classification … in 1867, marked an epoch in the systematics of birds.
1909. E. B. Poulton, in Q. Rev., July, 14. Many hundreds of naturalists … devote their lives to systematics—to the study of the differences between species.
