Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Consisting of or based on anecdotes: Relating to or characterized by short, often amusing or interesting, personal stories about real incidents or people.
   • Given to telling anecdotes: Describing a person, style, or conversation that frequently includes or favors such stories.

Usage

• The word anecdotical is used to describe information, evidence, or a narrative style that relies on personal anecdotes rather than systematic facts or data. It often implies a casual, informal, or unscientific quality.
• It is synonymous with the more common form anecdotal. "Anecdotical" is a valid but less frequently used variant.

Examples

• The report's conclusions were weak because they were based on purely anecdotical evidence from a few interviews.
• He is a wonderfully anecdotical speaker, always entertaining the audience with stories from his travels.
• The book provides an anecdotical history of the city, focusing on the lives of its famous inhabitants.

Advanced Usage

• Anecdotical record: An informal record of observations or incidents, often used in fields like education or psychology, but not considered rigorous data.
  • The teacher kept an anecdotical record of the student's behavioral changes.
• In a critical context, anecdotical can highlight the lack of scientific validity.
  • While compelling, her argument remains anecdotical and requires statistical support.

Variants and Related Words

• Anecdotal (adj): The standard and more common form with identical meaning.
  • anecdotal evidence
• Anecdote (n): A short, amusing, or interesting story about a real incident or person.
  • She told an amusing anecdote about her first day at work.
• Anecdotist (n): A person who tells anecdotes.
  • He was known as a great anecdotist at parties.

Synonyms

• Unsubstantiated: Not supported by proof or evidence.
• Informal: Having a relaxed, friendly, or unofficial style.
• Narrative: In the form of a story or account of events.

Antonyms

• Scientific: Based on or characterized by the methods and principles of science.
• Empirical: Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.
• Statistical: Relating to the use of statistics or numerical data.

Related Phrases

• Anecdotical information: Knowledge or details derived from anecdotes.
  • The article was filled with interesting but ultimately anecdotical information.
• In an anecdotical vein: Speaking or writing in a style that uses anecdotes.
  • He began his lecture in an anecdotical vein, describing his early experiments.

Adjective

1. characterized by or given to telling anecdotes
   • anecdotal conversation
   • an anecdotal history of jazz
   • he was at his anecdotic best