A trial; an act or operation designed to discover some unknown truth, principle or effect, or to establish it when discovered. Experiments in chimistry disclose the qualities of natural bodies. A series of experiments proves the uniformity of the laws of matter. It is not always safe to trust to a single experiment. It is not expedient to try many experiments in legislation.
A political experiment cannot be made in a laboratory, nor determined in a few hours.
EXPER'IMENT, v.i. To make trial; to make an experiment; to operate on a body in such a manner as to discover some unknown fact, or to establish it when known. Philosophers experiment on natural bodies for the discovery of their qualities and combinations.
1. To try; to search by trial.
2. To experience. [Not used.]
EXPER'IMENT, v.t. To try; to know by trial. [Little used.]