Experience

(89), n. [Lat. experientia, from experiens, p. pr. of experiri, to try, from ex, out of, from, and ancient periri, whence peritus, experienced; Fr. expérience, Pr. experientia, esperiencia, esperienza, Sp. & Pg. experiencia, It. esperienza, esperienza, sperienzia, sperienza, sperienza.]

1Sense 1. Practical acquaintance with any matter by personal observation or trial of it, or by feeling its effects, by living through it, or the like; experimental knowledge; actual trial.

On my experience, Adam, freely taste. Milton.

2Sense 2. Repeated trial of a matter; continued and varied observation; personal trial and experiment; also, the instruction and enlightenment so gained; practical wisdom taught by the changes and trials of life.

To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship, which illumine only the track it has passed. Coleridge.

3Sense 3. Trial instituted for the purpose of testing; experiment. [Obs.]

She caused him to make experience Upon wild beasts. Spencer.

Synonyms—Trial; proof; test; experiment.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. EXPERIENCED (-enst); p. pr. & vb. n. EXPERIENCING.] 1. To make practical acquaintance with; to try personally; to prove by use or trial; to have befall one; as, to experience pain, sorrow, or pleasure; to experience a change of views.

2Sense 2. To exercise; to train by practice.

The youthful sailors thus with early care Their arms experience, and for sea prepare. Harte.

To experience religion (Theol.), to become a convert to the doctrines of Christianity; to experience the truth of the great doctrines of divine grace. J. S. Spencer.