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theoretical

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
the·o·ret·i·cal  (th-rt-kl) also the·o·ret·ic (-rtk)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or based on theory.
2. Restricted to theory; not practical: theoretical physics.
3. Given to theorizing; speculative.

[Late Latin therticus, from Greek thertikos, from thertos, observable, from therein, to look at; see theorem.]

theo·reti·cal·ly adv.
Synonyms: theoretical, abstract, academic, hypothetical, speculative
These adjectives mean concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations: theoretical linguistics; abstract reasoning; a purely academic discussion; a hypothetical statement; speculative knowledge.

theoretical or theoretic
Adjective
1. based on or concerned with the ideas and abstract principles relating to a particular subject rather than its practical uses: theoretical physics
2. existing in theory but perhaps not in reality: the secret service is under the theoretical control of the government
theoretically adv
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.theoretical - concerned primarily with theories or hypotheses rather than practical considerations; "theoretical science"
empirical, empiric - derived from experiment and observation rather than theory; "an empirical basis for an ethical theory"; "empirical laws"; "empirical data"; "an empirical treatment of a disease about which little is known"
2.theoretical - concerned with theories rather than their practical applications; "theoretical physics"
applied - concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles; "applied physics"; "applied psychology"; "technical problems in medicine, engineering, economics and other applied disciplines"- Sidney Hook

theoretical or theoretic
adjective 1. abstract, pure, speculative, ideal, impractical << OPPOSITE practical
adjective 2. hypothetical, academic, notional, unproven, conjectural, postulatory
Translations
Spanish theoretical [θɪəˈrɛtɪkl] adjteórico
French theoretical [θɪəˈrɛtɪkl] adjthéorique
German theoretical [θɪəˈrɛtɪkl] adjtheoretisch
Italian theoretical [θɪəˈrɛtɪkl] adjteorico/a

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He could have been whatever he turned his agile intellect and his cunning hand to; he had been a schoolmaster and a watch-maker, and I believe an amateur doctor and irregular lawyer; he talked and wrote brilliantly, and he was one of the group that nightly disposed of every manner of theoretical and practical question at the drug-store; it was quite indifferent to him which side he took; what he enjoyed was the mental exercise.
On the contrary, she was one half of a very happy marriage, and, in a sense, her sufferings at the moment were merely theoretical, if one may so describe the sufferings caused by a theory.
The necessity of a concurrent jurisdiction in certain cases results from the division of the sovereign power; and the rule that all authorities, of which the States are not explicitly divested in favor of the Union, remain with them in full vigor, is not a theoretical consequence of that division, but is clearly admitted by the whole tenor of the instrument which contains the articles of the proposed Constitution.
 
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