experience

n. [ F. expérience, L. experientia, tr. experiens, experientis, p. pr. of experiri, expertus, to try; ex out + the root of peritus experienced. See Peril, and cf. Expert. ] 1. Trial, as a test or experiment. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

She caused him to make experience
Upon wild beasts. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event, whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance; actual enjoyment or suffering. “Guided by other's experiences.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. P. Henry [ 1913 Webster ]

To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship, which illumine only the track it has passed. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

When the consuls . . . came in . . . they knew soon by experience how slenderly guarded against danger the majesty of rulers is where force is wanting. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those that undertook the religion of our Savior upon his preaching, had no experience of it. Sharp. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An act of knowledge, one or more, by which single facts or general truths are ascertained; experimental or inductive knowledge; hence, implying skill, facility, or practical wisdom gained by personal knowledge, feeling or action; as, a king without experience of war. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whence hath the mind all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer in one word, from experience. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Experience may be acquired in two ways; either, first by noticing facts without any attempt to influence the frequency of their occurrence or to vary the circumstances under which they occur; this is observation; or, secondly, by putting in action causes or agents over which we have control, and purposely varying their combinations, and noticing what effects take place; this is experiment. Sir J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Experienced p. pr. & vb. n. Experiencing ] 1. To make practical acquaintance with; to try personally; to prove by use or trial; to have trial of; to have the lot or fortune of; to have befall one; to be affected by; to feel; as, to experience pain or pleasure; to experience poverty; to experience a change of views. [ 1913 Webster ]

The partial failure and disappointment which he had experienced in India. Thirwall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To exercise; to train by practice. [ 1913 Webster ]

The youthful sailors thus with early care
Their arms experience, and for sea prepare. Harte. [ 1913 Webster ]

To experience religion (Theol.), to become a convert to the doctrines of Christianity; to yield to the power of religious truth. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. p. & a. Taught by practice or by repeated observations; skillful or wise by means of trials, use, or observation; as, an experienced physician, workman, soldier; an experienced eye. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ablest and most experienced statesmen. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who experiences. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An experimenter. [ Obs. ] Sir. K. Digby. [ 1913 Webster ]