Contents -AUTHOR INDEX -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class IV. Words Relating to the Intellectual Faculties
Division (I) Formation of Ideas
Section II. Precursory Conditions and Operations

463. Experiment.

   NOUN:EXPERIMENT; essay (attempt) [See Essay]; analysis (investigation) [See Inquiry]; docimasy, trial, tentative method, tâtonnement [F.].
  VERIFICATION, probation, experimentum crucis [L.], proof, criterion, diagnostic, test, crucial test; assay, ordeal.
  REAGENT, crucible, check, touchstone, pyx or pix [Brit. mint], curcuma paper, turmeric paper.
  EMPRICISM, rule of thumb.
  FEELER; pilot -, messenger- balloon; pilot engine; scout; straw to show the wind.
  SPECULATION, random shot, leap in the dark.
  EXPERIMENTER, experimentist, experimentalist, assayer, analyst, analyzer; prospecter or prospector, Forty-Niner [U. S.], adventurer; speculator, gambler, stock gambler, plunger [slang].
   VERB:EXPERIMENT; essay (endeavor) [See Essay]; try, assay; make an experiment, make trial of; give a trial to; put upon -, subject to- trial; experiment upon; rehearse; put -, bring -, submit- to the -test, – proof; prove, verify, test, touch, practice upon, try one’s strength.
  GROPE; feel -, grope- -for, – one’s way; fumble, tâtonner [F.], aller à tâtons [F.]; put -, throw- out a feeler; send up a pilot balloon; see how the -land lies, – wind blows; consult the barometer; feel the pulse; fish for, bob for; cast -, beat- about for; angle, trawl, cast one’s net, beat the bushes.
  VENTURE; try one’s fortune (adventure) [See Essay]; explore (inquire) [See Inquiry].
   ADJECTIVE:EXPERIMENTAL, probative, probatory, probationary; analytic, docimastic or docimastical, speculative, tentative; empirical.
  TRIED, tested, proved.
  ON TRIAL, on examination, on or under probation, “on suspicion” [Elbert Hubbard], under suspicion; on one’s trial.