Experience (&ebreve_;kspēr&ibreve_;&eitalic_;ns), n. [F. expérience, L. experientia, tr. experiens, experientis, p. pr. of experiri, expertus, to try; ex out + the root of peritus experienced. See Peril, and cf. Expert.] 1. Trial, as a test or experiment. [Obs.]
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She caused him to make experience
Upon wild beasts. Spenser.
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2. The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event, whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance; actual enjoyment or suffering. “Guided by other's experiences.” Shak.
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I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. P. Henry
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To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship, which illumine only the track it has passed. Coleridge.
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When the consuls . . . came in . . . they knew soon by experience how slenderly guarded against danger the majesty of rulers is where force is wanting. Holland.
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Those that undertook the religion of our Savior upon his preaching, had no experience of it. Sharp.
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3. An act of knowledge, one or more, by which single facts or general truths are ascertained; experimental or inductive knowledge; hence, implying skill, facility, or practical wisdom gained by personal knowledge, feeling or action; as, a king without experience of war.
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Whence hath the mind all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer in one word, from experience. Locke.
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Experience may be acquired in two ways; either, first by noticing facts without any attempt to influence the frequency of their occurrence or to vary the circumstances under which they occur; this is observation; or, secondly, by putting in action causes or agents over which we have control, and purposely varying their combinations, and noticing what effects take place; this is experiment. Sir J. Herschel.
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