THEORIES
Noun
theories
plural of theory
Anagrams
• isothere, otherise, theorise
Source: Wiktionary
THEORY
The"o*ry, n.; pl. Theories. Etym: [F. théorie, L. theoria, Gr.
Theater.]
1. A doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates in speculation
or contemplation, without a view to practice; hypothesis;
speculation.
Note: "This word is employed by English writers in a very loose and
improper sense. It is with them usually convertible into hypothesis,
and hypothesis is commonly used as another term for conjecture. The
terms theory and theoretical are properly used in opposition to the
terms practice and practical. In this sense, they were exclusively
employed by the ancients; and in this sense, they are almost
exclusively employed by the Continental philosophers." Sir W.
Hamilton.
2. An exposition of the general or abstract principles of any
science; as, the theory of music.
3. The science, as distinguished from the art; as, the theory and
practice of medicine.
4. The philosophical explanation of phenomena, either physical or
moral; as, Lavoisier's theory of combustion; Adam Smith's theory of
moral sentiments. Atomic theory, Binary theory, etc. See under
Atomic, Binary, etc.
Syn.
– Hypothesis, speculation.
– Theory, Hypothesis. A theory is a scheme of the relations
subsisting between the parts of a systematic whole; an hypothesis is
a tentative conjecture respecting a cause of phenomena.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition