adv. [f. EXPERIMENTAL a. + -LY2.]
1. By experience; as the result of experience.
1593. R. Harvey, Philad., 106. Trusting none, but which they find certainly, and experimentally true.
1644. Bp. Hall, Serm., Rem. Wks. (1660), 110. Those solid divines that experimentally know what belongs to the healing of a sinful soul.
1674. R. Godfrey, Inj. & Ab. Physic, 25. I speak experimentally: for I … took several … such poysonous Medicines.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), VII. vii. 135. A king … experimentally acquainted with the ways … of flatterers.
1833. Lamb, Elia (1860), 367. I do not understand these matters experimentally.
1836. W. Burgh (title), The Divinity of Christ experimentally Considered.
2. By means of experiment.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. iv. 112. Thus was it … experimentally refuted by one Sestius a Physitian.
1684–5. Boyle, Min. Waters, Advt. A 3. The way of experimentally exploring portions of a Mineral Water.
1762. Foote, Orator, I. Wks. 1799, I. 205. Several churches and chapels … where the sleep-compelling power will be experimentally demonstrated to exist.
1793. Beddoes, Math. Evid., Ded. 7. For who ever heard of … Geometry … being proved experimentally?
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. x. 110. The curvature of the runners was determined experimentally.
3. By way of experiment.
1862. Rep. Dir. E. Ind. Railw. Co., 15. I proposed a road entirely of wrought iron, experimentally, of a mile in length.
