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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



230 words match “THEORY”

PROPORTION n.
hentic and facts are true precisely in proportion to the support which they afford to his theory. Macaulay.
PROTECTION n.
A theory, or a policy, of protecting the producers in a country from foreign competition in the home market by the imposition of such discriminating duties on goods of foreign production as will restrict or prevent their importation; -- opposed to free trade. Writ of protection. (Law) (a) A writ by which the king forme…
PSYCHANALYSIS n.
is based on the work of Dr. Sigmund Freud (1856- --) of Vienna. The method rests upon the theory that hysteria is characteristically due to repression of desires consciously rejected but subconsciously persistent; it consists in a close analysis of the patient's mental history, stress being laid upon the dream life, an…
PTOLEMAIC a.
be fixed in the center of the universe, with the sun and stars revolving around it. This theory was received for ages, until superseded by the Copernican system.
PUNCTUAL a.
isting in a point; limited to a point; unextended. [R.] "This punctual spot." Milton. The theory of the punctual existence of the soul. Krauth.
PUT v. 2 definitions
he like; to bring to a stated mental or moral condition; as, to put one in fear; to put a theory in practice; to put an enemy to fight. This present dignity, In which that I have put you. Chaucer. I will put enmity between thee and the woman. Gen. iii. 15. He put no trust in his servants. Job iv. 18. When God into the…
RATIONALIST n.
One who accepts rationalism as a theory or system; also, disparagingly, a false reasoner. See Citation under Reasonist.
RATIONALIZE v.
To use, and rely on, reason in forming a theory, belief, etc., especially in matters of religion: to accord with the principles of rationalism. Theodore . . . is just considered the chief rationalizing doctor of antiquity. J. H. Newman.
RAY n.
Sight; perception; vision; -- from an old theory of vision, that sight was something which proceeded from the eye to the object seen. All eyes direct their rays On him, and crowds turn coxcombs as they gaze. Pope.
REASON v.
rly discovered, well digested, and well reasoned in every part, there is beauty in such a theory. T. Burnet.
REFUTATION n.
of falsehood or error; the overthrowing of an argument, opinion, testimony, doctrine, or theory, by argument or countervailing proof. Same of his blunders seem rather to deserve a flogging than a refutation. Macaulay.
RELISH v.
finder-out of this secret, it would not have relished among my other discredits. Shak. A theory, which, how much soever it may relish of wit and invention, hath no foundation in nature. Woodward.
REPUBLICANISM n.
A republican form or system of government; the principles or theory of republican government.
RIGHT n.
y right. Shak. -- Divine right, or Divine right of kings, a name given to the patriarchal theory of government, especially to the doctrine that no misconduct and no dispossession can forfeit the right of a monarch or his heirs to the throne, and to the obedience of the people. -- To rights. (a) In a direct line; strai…
ROUGH a.
Produced offhand. "Some rough and ready theory." Tylor.
SALT n.
See under Microcosmic. -- Neutral salt. (Chem.) (a A salt in which the acid and base (in theory) neutralize each other. (b) A salt which gives a neutral reaction. -- Oxy salt (Chem.), a salt derived from an oxygen acid. -- Per salt (Old Chem.), a salt supposed to be derived from a peroxide base or analogous compound…
SALTATORY a.
cing; having the power of, or used in, leaping or dancing. Saltatory evolution (Biol.), a theory of evolution which holds that the transmutation of species is not always gradual, but that there may come sudden and marked variations. See Saltation. -- Saltatory spasm (Med.), an affection in which pressure of the foot o…
SCHEME n.
A plan or theory something to be done; a design; a project; as, to form a scheme. The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cuttig off our feet when we want shoes. Swift.
SEMINIST n.
A believer in the old theory that the newly created being is formed by the admixture of the seed of the male with the supposed seed of the female.
SOCIALISM n.
A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor. In popular usage, the term is often employed to indicate any lawless, revolutionary social scheme. See Communism, Fourierism, Saint-Simonianism, forms of social…
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