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a posteriori - 3 dictionary results

a pos⋅te⋅ri⋅o⋅ri

  [ey po-steer-ee-awr-ahy, -ohr-ahy, -awr-ee, -ohr-ee]
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–adjective
1. from particular instances to a general principle or law; based upon actual observation or upon experimental data: an a posteriori argument that derives the theory from the evidence. Compare a priori (def. 1).
2. not existing in the mind prior to or independent of experience. Compare a priori (def. 2).
Origin:
1615–25; < L: lit., from the one behind. See a- 4 , posterior
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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a pos·te·ri·o·ri   (ä' pŏ-stîr'ē-ôr'ē, -ôr'ī, -ōr'ē, -ōr'ī, ā')   
adj.  
  1. Derived by or designating the process of reasoning from facts or particulars to general principles or from effects to causes; inductive; empirical.
    1. Justified by appeal to experience.
    2. Knowable from experience.

[Medieval Latin : Latin a, from + Latin posteriorī, ablative of posterior, later.]
a' pos·te'ri·o'ri adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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A posteriori

A` pos*te`ri*o"ri\ [L. a (ab) + posterior latter.]

1. (Logic) Characterizing that kind of reasoning which derives propositions from the observation of facts, or by generalizations from facts arrives at principles and definitions, or infers causes from effects. This is the reverse of a priori reasoning.

2. (Philos.) Applied to knowledge which is based upon or derived from facts through induction or experiment; inductive or empirical.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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