A person who relies on practical experience and observation rather than theory, or relating to knowledge gained from actual experience rather than from studying rules.
From Greek 'empirikos' meaning 'experienced,' derived from 'empeiria' (experience) and 'peira' (trial). The word entered English in the 16th century to describe physicians who learned by practice rather than academic study.
Medieval doctors called 'empirics' were often dismissed as quacks, but many of them actually discovered effective treatments through trial-and-error while university physicians were still following ancient texts—showing that practical experience sometimes beats book learning!
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