(From Empirica Secta 3296 and experientia). The empiric sect. It was begun by Sera-pion of Alexandria, or by Heracleon, about 278 years before the birth of Christ. The empyrical physicians conducted themselves wholly by experience, without study or theory, like the quacks of the present day.. See Celsus de Medicina, p. 3, 8, 8vo. Lugd. Bat. 1746. Empiricus. An empiric, (from to experience, or to try,) an epithet applied to practitioners who founded their practice on experience only, or rather on incontrovertible facts, totally freed from all speculative ideas. In a bad sense, it is an appellation bestowed on quacks, who, without knowledge, pretend to perform miracles by some desperate nostrum; careless of the destruction they create, and eager only to pillage their unfortunate patients, generally at the ex-pence of their health, and too often of their lives. For the difference between the empiric and dogmatist, see Percival's Essays, Medicaland Experimental, vol. i.; which is, however, nearly a copy of one of Dr. Cullen's early introductory lectures.