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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



230 words match “THEORY”

CORRELATE v.
reciprocal or mutual relations; to be mutually related. Doctrine and worship correlate as theory and practice. Tylor.
COSMOGONY n.
The creation of the world or universe; a theory or account of such creation; as, the poetical cosmogony of Hesoid; the cosmogonies of Thales, Anaxagoras, and Plato. The cosmogony or creation of the world has puzzled philosophers of all ages. Goldsmith.
COSMOS n.
The theory or description of the universe, as a system displaying order and harmony. Humboldt.
DARWINIAN a.
Pertaining to Darwin; as, the Darwinian theory, a theory of the manner and cause of the supposed development of living things from certain original forms or elements.
DARWINISM n.
The theory or doctrines put forth by Darwin. See above. Huxley.
DEGENERATIONIST n.
A believer in the theory of degeneration, or hereditary degradation of type; as, the degenerationists hold that savagery is the result of degeneration from a superior state.
DETERMINANT n.
y placing the numbers from which it is formed in a square between two vertical lines. The theory of determinants forms a very important branch of modern mathematics.
DEVELOPMENT n.
a; the evolution of a whole piece or movement from a leading theme or motive. Development theory (Biol.), the doctrine that animals and plants possess the power of passing by slow and successive stages from a lower to a higher state of organization, and that all the higher forms of life now in existence were thus devel…
DOMINO n.
nged such sequences involving thousands of dominoes, arrayed in fanciful patterns. Domino theory. A political theory current in the 1960's, according to which the conversion of one country in South Asia to communism will start a sequential process causing all Asian countries to convert to Communism. The apparent assump…
DUALISTIC a.
Consisting of two; pertaining to dualism or duality. Dualistic system or theory (Chem.), the theory, originated by Lavoisier and developed by Berzelius, that all definite compounds are binary in their nature, and consist of two distinct constituents, themselves simple or complex, and possessed of opposite chemical or e…
DYNAMIST n.
One who accounts for material phenomena by a theory of dynamics. Those who would resolve matter into centers of force may be said to constitute the school of dynamists. Ward (Dyn. Sociol. ).
EARTHQUAKE n.
earthquave, and earthshock. Earthquake alarm, a bell signal constructed to operate on the theory that a few seconds before the occurrence of an earthquake the magnet temporarily loses its power.
ECCLESIOLOGY n.
The science or theory of church building and decoration.
ECLECTICISM n.
Theory or practice of an eclectic.
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC a.
ic engine, an engine in which the motive force is electro-magnetism. -- Electro-magnetic theory of light (Physics), a theory of light which makes it consist in the rapid alternation of transient electric currents moving transversely to the direction of the ray.
ELECTRO-VITALISM n.
The theory that the functions of living organisms are dependent upon electricity or a kindred force.
ELEMENTALISM a.
The theory that the heathen divinities originated in the personification of elemental powers.
EMISSION n.
ed, or put in circulation at one time; issue; as, the emission was mostly blood. Emission theory (Physics), the theory of Newton, regarding light as consisting of emitted particles or corpuscles. See Corpuscular theory, under Corpuscular.
EMPIRIC; EMPIRICAL a.
Depending upon experience or observation alone, without due regard to science and theory; -- said especially of medical practice, remedies, etc.; wanting in science and deep insight; as, empiric skill, remedies. Empirical formula. (Chem.) See under Formula.
EMPIRICISM n.
The philosophical theory which attributes the origin of all our knowledge to experience.
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