from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Newtonian \New*to"ni*an\, a.
Of or pertaining to Sir Isaac Newton, or his discoveries.
[1913 Webster]
{Newtonian philosophy}, the philosophy of Sir Isaac Newton;
-- applied to the doctrine of the universe as expounded in
Newton's "Principia," to the modern or experimental
philosophy (as opposed to the theories of Descartes and
others), and, most frequently, to the mathematical theory
of universal gravitation.
{Newtonian telescope} (Astron.), a reflecting telescope, in
which rays from the large speculum are received by a plane
mirror placed diagonally in the axis, and near the open
end of the tube, and thrown at right angles toward one
side of the tube, where the image is formed and viewed
through the eyeplace.
{Newtonian theory of light}. See Note under {Light}.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906)
NEWTONIAN, adj. Pertaining to a philosophy of the universe invented
by Newton, who discovered that an apple will fall to the ground, but
was unable to say why. His successors and disciples have advanced so
far as to be able to say when.