theory means A description of an event or system that is considered to be accurate.
theory is pronounced /ˈθɪə.ɹi/.
Why “theory” is a great word
A coherent set of principles or a confirmed hypothesis that explains observed phenomena and predicts new ones. From the Late Latin theōria, borrowed from Ancient Greek θεωρία (theōría, "contemplation, speculation"), from θεωρός (theōrós, "spectator") + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, abstract noun suffix). Unlike hypothesis, a provisional sketch of possibility, or practice, the immediate and messy act of doing, theory is the spectator's elevated vantage point, the fully rendered blueprint. It is the invisible lattice of gravity explaining the falling apple, the elegant spiral of DNA predicting inheritance, and the silent mathematics of a black hole's event horizon—our gleaming scaffold of reason, erected to contemplate the great dark of the unknown.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French théorie, a learned borrowing from Late Latin theōria, borrowed from Ancient Greek θεωρία (theōría), from θεωρός (theōrós, “spectator”) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā).
noun
- A description of an event or system that is considered to be accurate.e.g.“As they encrease the hatred of vice in some, so doe they enlarge the theory of wickednesse in all.” — 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica, VII.19:
- A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena and correctly predicts new facts or phenomena not previously observed, or which sets out the laws and principles of something known or observed; a hypothesis confirmed by observation, experiment etc.e.g.“In its most proper acceptation, theory means the completed result of philosophical induction from experience.” — 1843, John Stuart Mill, ""A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive, ..., Bk V, Ch 7
- The underlying principles or methods of a given technical skill, art etc., as opposed to its practice.e.g.“Lopukhov wrote a number of books and articles on ballet theory, as well as his memoirs.” — 1998, Elizabeth Souritz, The Great History of Russian Ballet:
- A field of study attempting to exhaustively describe a particular class of constructs.e.g.“Knot theory classifies the mappings of a circle into 3-space.”
- A set of axioms together with all statements derivable from them; or, a set of statements which are deductively closed. Equivalently, a formal language plus a set of axioms (from which can then be derived theorems). The statements may be required to all be bound (i.e., to have no free variables).e.g.“A theory is consistent if it has a model.”
- The standardization and study of fixed sequences of moves, especially in the opening phase of a game.e.g.“Near-synonym: joseki”
- Mental conception; reflection, consideration.
- A hypothesis or conjecture.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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