practic
PRACTIC, for practical, is not in use. It was formerly used for practical, and Spenser uses it in the sense of artful.
practicable
PRACTICABLE, a.
1. That may be done, effected or performed by human means, or by powers that can be applied. It is sometimes synonymous with possible, but the words differ in this; possible is applied to that which might be performed, if the necessary powers or means could be obtained; practicable is limited in its application to things which are to be performed by the means given, or which may be applied. It was possible for Archimedes to lift the world, but it was not practicable.
2. That may be practiced; as a practicable virtue.
3. That admits of use, or that may be passed or traveled; as a practicable road. In military affairs, a practicable breach is one that can be entered by troops.
practicableness
PRACTICABLENESS, n. from practicable. The quality or state of being practicable; feasibility.
practicably
PRACTICABLY, adv. In such a manner as may be performed. "A rule practicably applied before his eyes," is not correct language. It is probably a mistake for practically.
practical
PRACTICAL, a. L. practicus. Pertaining to practice or action.
1. Capable of practice or active use; opposed to speculative; as a practical understanding.
2. That may be used in practice; that may be applied to use; as practical knowledge.
3. That reduces his knowledge or theories to actual use; as a practical man.
4. Derived from practice or experience; as practical skill or knowledge.
practically
PRACTICALLY, adv. In relation to practice.
1. By means of practice or use; by experiment; as practically wise or skillful.
2. In practice or use; as a medicine practically safe; theoretically wrong, but practically right.
practicalness
PRACTICALNESS, n. The quality of being practical.
practice
PRACTICE, n. Gr. to act, to do, to make; Eng. to brook, and broker; L. fruor, for frugor or frucor, whence fructus, contracted into fruit; frequens.
1. Frequent or customary actions; a succession of acts of a similar kind or in a like employment; as the practice of rising early or of dining late; the practice of reading a portion of Scripture morning and evening; the practice of making regular entries of accounts; the practice of virtue or vice. Habit is the effect of practice.
2. Use; customary use.
Obsolete words may be revived when the are more sounding or significant than those in practice.
3. Dexterity acquired by use. Unusual.
4. Actual performance; distinguished from theory.
There are two functions of the soul, contemplation and practice, according to the general division of objects, some of which only entertain our speculations, others employ our actions.
5. Application of remedies; medical treatment of diseases. Tow physicians may differ widely in their practice.
6. Exercise of any profession; as the practice of law or of medicine; the practice of arms.
7. Frequent use; exercise for instruction or discipline. The troops are daily called out for practice.
8. Skillful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; art; stratagem; artifice; usually in a bad sense.
He sought to have that by practice which he could not by prayer.
This use of the word is genuine; from L. experior. It is not a mistake as Johnson supposes. See the Verb.
9. A rule in arithmetic, by which the operations of the general rules are abridged in use.
PRACTICE, v.t. From the noun. The orthography of the verb ought to be the same as of the noun; as in notice and to notice.
1. To do or perform frequently, customarily or habitually; to perform by a succession of acts; as, to practice gaming; to practice fraud or deception; to practice the virtues of charity and beneficence; to practice hypocrisy. Is.32.
Many praise virtue who do not practice it.
2. To use or exercise any profession or art; as, to practice law or medicine; to practice gunnery or surveying.
3. To use or exercise for instruction, discipline or dexterity. In this sense, the verb is usually intransitive.
4. To commit; to perpetrate; as the horrors practiced at Wyoming.
5. To use; as a practiced road. Unusual.
PRACTICE, v.i. To perform certain acts frequently or customarily, either for instruction, profit, or amusement; as, to practice with the broad sword; to practice with the rifle.
1. To form a habit of acting in any manner.
They shall practice how to live secure.
2. To transact or negotiate secretly.
I have practicd with him,
And found means to let the victor know
That Syphax and Sempronius are his friends.
3. To try artifices.
Others, by guilty artifice and arts
Of promisd kindness, practicd on our hearts.
4. To use evil arts or stratagems.
If you there
Did practice on my state--
5. To use medical methods or experiments.
I am little inclined to practice on others,and as little that others should practice on me.
6. To exercise any employment or profession. A physician has practiced many years with success.
practiced
PRACTICED, pp. Done by a repetition of acts; customarily performed or used.
practicer
PRACTICER, n. One that practices; one that customarily performs certain acts.
1. One who exercises a profession. In this sense, practitioner is generally used.
practicing
PRACTICING, ppr. Performing or using customarily; exercising, as an art or profession.