Theorize to Thermocautery
Theorize
(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.
Theorizer
(The"o*ri`zer) n. One who theorizes or speculates; a theorist.
Theory
(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.
Theosoph
(The"o*soph The*os"o*pher) n. A theosophist.
Theosophic
(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.
Theosophism
(The*os"o*phism) n. [Cf. F. théosophisme.] Belief in theosophy. Murdock.
Theosophist
(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. Theosophistical
(The*os`o*phis"tic*al) a. Of or pertaining to theosophy; theosophical.
Theosophize
(The*os"o*phize) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Theosophized ; p. pr. & vb. n. Theosophizing.]
To practice theosophy. [R.]
Theosophy
(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.
