empirical

Where does the word "empirical" come from? It comes from Greek empeirikos, and was adopted directly into English (1560s).

Empirical’s story begins in Greek: empeirikos meant “based on experience.” Relying on experience, from empeiria (experience). It reached English by 1560s as empirical. Settled as the word for knowledge based on observation and experience. Today, empirical means based on observation or experiment rather than theory alone.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient empeirikos "based on experience", relying on experience, from empeiria (experience).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1560s empirical "based on observation or experience rather than theory", settled as the word for knowledge based on observation and experience.