The"o*rist (?), n. [Cf. F. théoriste.] One who forms theories; one
given to theory and speculation; a speculatist. Cowper.
The greatest theoretists have given the preference to such a government
as that which obtains in this kingdom.
Addison.
The`o*ri*za"tion (?), n. The act or product of theorizing; the
formation of a theory or theories; speculation.
The"o*rize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Theorized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Theorizing (?).] [Cf. F. théoriser.] To form a theory or theories; to
form opinions solely by theory; to speculate.
The"o*ri`zer (?), n. One who theorizes or speculates; a theorist.
The"o*ry (?), n.; pl. Theories (#). [F. théorie, L. theoria, Gr. &?; a
beholding, spectacle, contemplation, speculation, fr. &?; a spectator,
&?; to see, view. See Theater.] 1. A doctrine, or scheme of things,
which terminates in speculation or contemplation, without a view to
practice; hypothesis; speculation.
"This word is employed by English writers in a very loose and improper
sense. It is with them usually convertible into hypothesis, and
hypothesis is commonly used as another term for conjecture. The terms
theory and theoretical are properly used in opposition to the terms
practice and practical. In this sense, they were exclusively employed
by the ancients; and in this sense, they are almost exclusively
employed by the Continental philosophers." Sir W. Hamilton.
2. An exposition of the general or abstract principles of any science;
as, the theory of music.
3. The science, as distinguished from the art; as, the theory and
practice of medicine.
4. The philosophical explanation of phenomena, either physical or
moral; as, Lavoisier's theory of combustion; Adam Smith's theory of
moral sentiments.
Atomic theory, Binary theory, etc. See under Atomic, Binary, etc.
Syn. — Hypothesis, speculation. — Theory, Hypothesis. A theory is a
scheme of the relations subsisting between the parts of a systematic
whole; an hypothesis is a tentative conjecture respecting a cause of
phenomena.
{ The"o*soph (?), The*os"o*pher (?), } n. A theosophist.
{ The`o*soph"ic (?), The`o*soph"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. théosophique.]
Of or pertaining to theosophy. — The`o*soph"ic*al*ly, adv.
The*os"o*phism (?), n. [Cf. F. théosophisme.] Belief in theosophy.
Murdock.
The*os"o*phist (?), n. One addicted to theosophy.
The theosophist is one who gives you a theory of God, or of the works
of God, which has not reason, but an inspiration of his own, for its
basis.
R. A. Vaughan.
The*os`o*phis"tic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to theosophy;
theosophical.
The*os"o*phize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Theosophized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Theosophizing.] To practice theosophy. [R.]
The*os"o*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?; knowledge of things divine, fr. &?; wise
in the things of God; &?; God + &?; wise: cf. F. théosophie.] Any
system of philosophy or mysticism which proposes to attain intercourse
with God and superior spirits, and consequent superhuman knowledge, by
physical processes, as by the theurgic operations of some ancient
Platonists, or by the chemical processes of the German fire
philosophers; also, a direct, as distinguished from a revealed,
knowledge of God, supposed to be attained by extraordinary
illumination; especially, a direct insight into the processes of the
divine mind, and the interior relations of the divine nature.
||Ther`a*peu"tæ (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; (pl. &?;) an attendant,
||servant, physician. See Therapeutic.] (Eccl. Hist.) A name given to
||certain ascetics said to have anciently dwelt in the neighborhood of
||Alexandria. They are described in a work attributed to Philo, the
||genuineness and credibility of which are now much discredited.
||
{ Ther`a*peu"tic (?), Ther`a*peu"tic*al (?), } a. [F. thérapeutique,
Gr. &?;, from &?; attendant, servant, &?; to serve, take care of, treat
medically, &?; attendant, servant.] (Med.) Of or pertaining to the
healing art; concerned in discovering and applying remedies for
diseases; curative. "Therapeutic or curative physic." Sir T. Browne.
Medicine is justly distributed into "prophylactic," or the art of
preserving health, and therapeutic, or the art of restoring it.