v. [f. as prec. + -IZE: cf. med.L. theōrizāre (Scotus Erigena, a. 880).]
† 1. trans. To contemplate, survey. Obs. rare.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 223. Hitherto wee have beene practicall; let mee now draw your eyes to theorize in generall the severall properties and fashions of this great Empire.
2. intr. To form or construct theories.
1638. Sir T. Herbert, Trav. (ed. 2), 6. Let us theorize a little upon the Mathematiques.
1797. Gillies, Aristotle’s Ethics, X. vii. I. 397. Even unassisted and alone, though perhaps better with assistants, he [the sage] can still think and theorize.
1809–10. Coleridge, Friend, I. iv. (1865), 118. The meanest of men has his theory, and to think at all is to theorize.
1845. Jebb, Gen. Princ. Law, in Encycl. Metrop., II. 677/1. He did not theorize without regard to facts and experience.
a. 1862. Buckle, Misc. Wks. (1872), I. 15–6. Among us a theorist is actually a term of reproach, instead of being, as it ought to be, a term of honour; for to theorise is the highest function of genius, and the greatest philosophers must always be the greatest theorists.
3. trans. To construct a theory of or about.
a. 1848. W. A. Butler, Hist. Anc. Philos. (1856), I. 40. [Mechanics] theorizes the forces and motions of the masses; [Chemistry] the intimate structure of each.
b. To suppose, or assume, in the way of theory. (With simple obj. or obj. clause.)
1838. G. S. Faber, Inquiry, 107. We can scarcely theorise a lower depth than this glaring and scandalous prostitution of justice.
1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., xx. 507. He theorised that the difference between a pea and nothing could make no difference to the poor beast.
c. To make or constitute in theory; to bring into or out of some condition theoretically.
1843. Blackw. Mag., LIII. 697. He had … theorized himself into the future husband of his ward.
1864. Lowell, McClellan’s Rep., Prose Wks. 1890, V. 97. The one thing that cannot be theorized out of existence … is a lost campaign.
1886. J. Ker, Serm., Ser. II. (1887), xi. 171. Men theorise it into a thing of natural growth.
Hence Theorizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.; also Theorization, the action of theorizing, construction of a theory or theories; Theorizer, one who theorizes.
1820. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 325. The misconstructions, interpolations, and *theorizations of … fanatics.
1854. E. G. Holland, Mem. J. Badger, 417. Men who have no tendency to speculative theorization.
1829. Carlyle, Crit. & Misc. Ess., Novalis (1872), II. 197. A great and original plan, very different … from that of our idle *theorisers and generalizers.
1870. Proctor, Other Worlds, 3. Not … the mere fanciful theoriser…, but men of the highest eminence in science.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages (1872), I. Pref. 6. A fault too common,… that of *theorising upon an imperfect induction.
1849. Noad, Electricity (ed. 3), 127. One fact is worth a volume of theorizing.
1792. J. Belknap, Hist. New Hampsh., III. 229. The inconsistent conclusions of these theorising philosophers.
1891. Athenæum, 5 Dec., 753/2. We find the utmost scorn expressed [by Moltke] for … theorizing demagogues.
