[f. (after F. théricien) on THEORIC sb. + -IAN; cf. logician, physician, etc.] A holder of a theory; = THEORIST.
1841. Blackw. Mag., L. 16. To examine Mr. Porter the statistician, to discover a decisive refutation of Mr. Porter the free-trade theorician.
1895. Westm. Gaz., 1 Oct., 3/1. Some editors … believed, at the promptings of jealous theoricians, that the Pasteur system was a fallacy.
1905. Athenæum, 16 Sept., 365/1. Two other poets … are … considered in these pages; and then some theoricians.
