Empirical
Example: The historian presented empirical evidence to support her theory.
Definition
"Empirical" describes knowledge or evidence based on observation, experience, or experiment rather than theory or pure logic. In history, "empirical" evidence refers to information gathered from actual historical records, artifacts, or data supporting a particular interpretation or theory.
Etymology
The word "empirical" comes from the Greek word 'empeirikos,' meaning experienced or skilled through practice. It entered English via Latin and French, originally relating to medical practitioners who relied on observation rather than theory. Did you know? The emphasis on observation in "empirical" methods helped shape modern scientific and historical inquiry.
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"Empirical" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - History - (C2) - set 1", containing 212 commonly used words.
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