experience

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
experience/ɪkˈspɪəriəns/

▶noun

• 1 practical contact with and observation of facts or events.

• 2 knowledge or skill gained over time.

• 3 an event or activity which leaves a lasting impression.

▶verb encounter (an event or situation).

■ feel (an emotion).

– derivatives
experienceable adjective,
experiencer noun.

– origin ME: via OFr. from L. experientia, from experiri ‘try’; cf. experiment and expert.