science
sci.ence \'si--*n(t)s\ n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L scientia, fr. scient-, sciens
having knowl]edge, fr. prp. of scire to know; akin to L scindere to cut -
more at SHED 1a: possession of knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or
misunderstan ding 1b: knowledge attained through study or practice 2a: a
department of systematized knowledge as an object of study {the @ of
theology} 2b: something (as a sport or technique) that may be studied or
learned like systematized knowledge 2c: one of the natural sciences 3:
knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws esp. as
obtained and tested through scientific method; specif : NATURAL SCIENCE 4:
a system or method based or purporting to be based upon scientific princ
iples cap 5: CHRISTIAN SCIENCE