Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Practice
Prac′tice
,Noun.
1.
Frequently repeated or customary action; habitual performance; a succession of acts of a similar kind; usage; habit; custom;
as, the
practice
of rising early; the practice
of making regular entries of accounts; the practice
of daily exercise. A heart . . . exercised with covetous
practices
. 2 Pet. ii. 14.
2.
Customary or constant use; state of being used.
Obsolete words may be revived when they are more sounding or more significant than those in
practice
. Dryden.
3.
Skill or dexterity acquired by use; expertness.
[R.]
“His nice fence and his active practice.” Shak.
4.
Actual performance; application of knowledge; – opposed to theory.
There are two functions of the soul, – contemplation and
practice
. South.
There is a distinction, but no opposition, between theory and
practice
; each, to a certain extent, supposes the other; theory is dependent on practice
; practice
must have preceded theory. Sir W. Hamilton.
5.
Systematic exercise for instruction or discipline;
as, the troops are called out for
practice
; she neglected practice
in music. 6.
Application of science to the wants of men; the exercise of any profession; professional business;
as, the
practice
of medicine or law; a large or lucrative practice
.Practice
is exercise of an art, or the application of a science in life, which application is itself an art. Sir W. Hamilton.
7.
Skillful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; art; stratagem; artifice; plot; – usually in a bad sense.
[Obs.]
Bacon.
He sought to have that by
practice
which he could not by prayer. Sir P. Sidney.
8.
(Math.)
A easy and concise method of applying the rules of arithmetic to questions which occur in trade and business.
9.
(Law)
The form, manner, and order of conducting and carrying on suits and prosecutions through their various stages, according to the principles of law and the rules laid down by the courts.
Bouvier.
Syn. – Custom; usage; habit; manner.
Prac′tice
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Practiced
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Practicing
.] [Often written
practise
, practised
, practising
.] 1.
To do or perform frequently, customarily, or habitually; to make a practice of;
“Incline not my heart . . . practice wicked works.” as, to
. practice
gamingPs. cxli. 4.
2.
To exercise, or follow, as a profession, trade, art, etc.,
as, to
. practice
law or medicine2.
To exercise one’s self in, for instruction or improvement, or to acquire discipline or dexterity;
as, to
practice
gunnery; to practice
music. 4.
To put into practice; to carry out; to act upon; to commit; to execute; to do.
“Aught but Talbot's shadow whereon to practice your severity.” Shak.
As this advice ye
practice
or neglect. Pope.
5.
To make use of; to employ.
[Obs.]
In malice to this good knight's wife, I
practiced
Ubaldo and Ricardo to corrupt her. Massinger.
6.
To teach or accustom by practice; to train.
In church they are taught to love God; after church they are
practiced
to love their neighbor. Landor.
Prac′tice
,Verb.
I.
[Often written
practise
.] 1.
To perform certain acts frequently or customarily, either for instruction, profit, or amusement;
as, to
practice
with the broadsword or with the rifle; to practice
on the piano. 2.
To learn by practice; to form a habit.
They shall
practice
how to live secure. Milton.
Practice
first over yourself to reign. Waller.
3.
To try artifices or stratagems.
He will
practice
against thee by poison. Shakespeare
4.
To apply theoretical science or knowledge, esp. by way of experiment; to exercise or pursue an employment or profession, esp. that of medicine or of law.
[I am] little inclined to
practice
on others, and as little that others should practice
on me. Sir W. Temple.
Webster 1828 Edition
Practice
PRAC'TICE
,Noun.
1.
Frequent or customary actions; a succession of acts of a similar kind or in a like employment; as the practice of rising early or of dining late; the practice of reading a portion of Scripture morning and evening; the practice of making regular entries of accounts; the practice of virtue or vice. Habit is the effect of practice.2.
Use; customary use. Obsolete words may be revived when the are more sounding or significant than those in practice.
3.
Dexterity acquired by use. [Unusual.]4.
Actual performance; distinguished from theory. There are two functions of the soul, contemplation and practice, according to the general division of objects, some of which only entertain our speculations, others employ our actions.
5.
Application of remedies; medical treatment of diseases. Tow physicians may differ widely in their practice.6.
Exercise of any profession; as the practice of law or of medicine; the practice of arms.7.
Frequent use; exercise for instruction or discipline. The troops are daily called out for practice.8.
Skillful or artful management; dexterity in contrivance or the use of means; art; stratagem; artifice; usually in a bad sense. He sought to have that by practice which he could not by prayer.
[This use of the word is genuine; from L. experior. It is not a mistake as Johnson supposes. See the Verb.]
9.
A rule in arithmetic, by which the operations of the general rules are abridged in use.PRAC'TICE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To do or perform frequently, customarily or habitually; to perform by a succession of acts; as, to practice gaming; to practice fraud or deception; to practice the virtues of charity and beneficence; to practice hypocrisy. Is.32. Many praise virtue who do not practice it.
2.
To use or exercise any profession or art; as, to practice law or medicine; to practice gunnery or surveying.3.
To use or exercise for instruction, discipline or dexterity. [In this sense, the verb is usually intransitive.]4.
To commit; to perpetrate; as the horrors practiced at Wyoming.5.
To use; as a practiced road. [Unusual.]PRAC'TICE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To form a habit of acting in any manner. They shall practice how to live secure.
2.
To transact or negotiate secretly. I have practic'd with him,
And found means to let the victor know
That Syphax and Sempronius are his friends.
3.
To try artifices. Others, by guilty artifice and arts
Of promis'd kindness, practic'd on our hearts.
4.
To use evil arts or stratagems. If you there
Did practice on my state--
5.
To use medical methods or experiments. I am little inclined to practice on others,and as little that others should practice on me.
6.
To exercise any employment or profession. A physician has practiced many years with success.