Systematic, Systematical, a. [Gr. systématique.]
1. Of or pertaining to system; consisting in system; methodical; formed with regular connection and adaptation or subordination of parts to each other, and to the design of the whole; as, a systematic arrangement of plants or animals; a systematic course of study. Now we deal much in essays, and unreasonably despise systematical learning; whereas our fathers had a just value for regularity and systems. I. Watts. A representation of phenomena, in order to answer the purposes of science, must be systematic. Whewell.
2. Proceeding according to system, or regular method; as, a systematic writer; systematic benevolence.
3. Pertaining to the system of the world; cosmical. These ends may be called cosmical, or systematical. Boyle.
4. (Med.)
1 more senses
Affecting successively the different parts of the system or set of nervous fibres; as, systematic degeneration. Systematic theology. See under Theology.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for systematic; he lists it under dogmatic.
Where he writes about it:
Dogmatic theology, called also "dogmatics," gives definite propositions, which it holds to be delivered by authority; systematic theology considers the same propositions in their logical connection and order as parts of a system; a doctrinal statement is less absolute in its claims than a dogmatic treatise, and may be more partial than the term systematic would imply. — from dogmatic