Falconwing,
Since you brought it up.
I am sorry to have to school you like this but...
Empiric is a noun.
Use: Zoney is an empiric. (which he is not, or at least I don't think he is)
Empirical is an adjective.
Use: I gave Zoney an empirical victory.
Empirical being the adjective to victory. I did not call Zoney an empiric as this would be an insult in this situation.
A Pyrrhic victory: You are correct on your origin of the phrase. What you do not understand is how to use the phrase in context other than the pure definition.
An "empiric victory" IS a legal term. The word "empiric" is used as a noun to refer to the defendant in legal cases where the plantiff looses at great cost in either expenses or effort, or, results in a technical victory resulting in no punishment in relation to the crime....more of a slap on the wrist.
Both words are often used in the same sense. It depends on what context one is speaking.
In my use of the phrase an "empirical victory" would be correct. However, we have been debating a topic involving combat. So perhaps "pyrrhical victory" might have been appropriate as well.
Except that, empirical is more appropriate due to the context of the use. Empirical is more widely known due to its legal use and is more commonly used in reference to business, philosophy or debate.
Pyrrhic is better used in references to military or perhaps political battles.
Really though, one could say "empirical victory" or "Pyrrhic victory", it just depends on the topic at hand.
Empirical is often used to desribe a "hollow victory" or a "victory of no value, as nothing is gained".
I chose to use "empirical" because I thought it applied to the topic better than "Pyrrhic".
