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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Lesso(u)n, n. Also: les(s)on(n)e, lessown, -ioun. [ME. lescun (a 1225), lessoun, ME. and e.m.E. lesson, e.m.E. (once) -ion, OF. lecon (f. L. lectio Lectioun n.²).]

1. The action of reading or study. a1400 Leg. S. xl. 240.
Deuote als in oracione, & ful ithand in lessone 1490 Irland Mir. I. 162/15.
Sanct Augustyne lufit … sa mekile the haly name of Jhesus that nouthire disputacioune, lessoun na scripture … plesit him, bot the haly name 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8340.
Efter my lessoun was compleit

2. A portion of Scripture appointed to be read at divine service. c1520-c1535 Nisbet III. 274.
The lessoun on Cristinmesse Euen Ib. 275.
The lessoun of Esaie the prophet, in the quhilk the schynyng birth of Crist is prophecijt Ib. 277.
The secund lessoun at the sammin messe

3. A lecture, a discourse read before an audience for their instruction; a portion of a book or of dictated matter read out by a teacher to be memorized by the pupils, a portion of teaching to be memorized; any piece of formal teaching to be learned. Also fig. a1400 Leg. S. ii. 61.
Jerome ws sayis in his lessone [L. in libro de viris illustribus] That Paule [etc.] c1420 Wynt. v. 2043.
Syn that tyme that I last wes here A bettyre lessown newyre wes red Than I herd in a priwa sted c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 257.
Wnto my lesson ȝe lyth, and leir at me wit 1562 Q. Kennedy Ressoning I.
Amang other godlie lessones … i inserit certane catholick artickles 1563 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 241.
The rest of his lessone, quhilk he sayis he hes learnit, is on ane boddomles ground 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 8.
Syne he sal declair euery word and cause thayme to writ severally all the nounes and the verbes that be in thair lesson Ib. 10.
On the quhilk day al lessonis begynnis againe in al collegis Ib. 11.
In sommer he sal ryng dayly … at sax to the lesson public 1579 Acts III. 180/2.
That the lawer now appointit to … be in Sanctsaluatouris college sall reid within the same foure lessonis of the law ouklie, … to quhilkis lessonis in the law salbe ordiner auditouris all the aduocattis [etc.] Ib.
And thairwithall affirming that they diligentlie keipit the lessonis 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 211.
Sathan stwid … and gaif thir lessonnes and commandis to him 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 3/9.
And in this booke your lesson will ye leare 1600 Crim. Trials II. 309.
If it would please His Ma[jesty] to suffer us … to speak … from the word … which must have a farr greater grace nor to speak … as it were a cunned lessoun or an ABC putt in man's hand 1631 Peebles Gleanings 94.
He sall daylie … teitche the lessounes to the bairnes, baith leirning Latine and Scottis 1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 465.
Let them expone thair lessoun and confer of the parts thairof among them selfs till nyne hours a1646 Wedderburn Voc. (1709) 4.
Jam audienda est prælectio now we must hear our lesson 1649 Elgin Rec. II. 434.
The lessons on playdays to be breiffer 1655 Peebles B. Rec. II. 31.
Each Sunday he shall conveane the saids maill bairnes at eight houres in the morning, and teach them their Sundayes lessones of Scripture and catechisingfig. a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 61.
In Venus scule I man sum lessoun leir Gif I [etc.]

b. The public discourse given by an ‘expectant’ as proof of his knowledge of the law, following his examination for admission as advocate.See also R. K. Hannay College of Justice (1933) 139–64. 1650 Acts Sederunt 69.
Act dischargeing advocats lessons the last month of the session Ib.
Any [advocates] who are to make thair lessones for giveing proof of their literature 1661 Ib. 80. 1664 R. K. Hannay College of Justice (1933) 153.
[An intrant was now] privatlie and publicklie examined by the dean of facultie and examinators [after which he] said ane lesson upon an title of the civill law assigned to him by the said dean 1664 Nicoll Diary 424.
An act set doun that nane salbe resavit advocates … befoir thai be put to a tryell … and than eftir tryell, upone thair supplicatioun to the lordis of session, they sall have libertie to mak a lessioun 1688 Acts Sederunt 181.
The Lords of Councill and Session do … approve the form … as to such who enter advocats … by privat and publick examination and assigneing them the subject of a publick lesson a1691 Kingston Contin. Ho. Seytoun 63.
He made his public lesson of the law before King James the Sixth, the senators of the colledge of justice and advocats present, in the chapell royall of Holyroodhouse in his lawer gown and fout nooked cape, as lawers use to pas their tryalls in the universities abroad

4. transf a. An occurrence from which instruction may be gained; an instructive example; a rebuke or punishment calculated to prevent a repetition of the offence. ?1438 Alex. ii. 3010.
Sik ane lessoun I sall him ken That he agane in Inde wald be! a1500 Henr. III. 19/88.
And evir quhill scho wes in quert, That was hir a lessoun 1568 Lyndesay Pref.
In till this buke quha list to reid thay sall Find mony lessoun largelie to commend a1578 Pitsc. I. 209/34.
This may be … knawin to all kingis … to gif thame ane … lessone that they fall not from God 1596 Dalr. I. 198/34.
Quhilke miserie began to leir thame a lessone 1650 Carstaires Lett. 75.
I may stay year after year [in prison] … and yet not profite by it, if I be not taught by Him who teaches his people to profite. … It is not, in anay dispensation severed from him, to give out a lessoune, but that it is indeed parte of his prerogative royall

b. To leir (also, to lyth to and to cun) (a) certain lessoun or lessonis, to follow the example indicated or conform to the counsel given. ?1438 Alex. i. 1288.
Quhair he ane wickit man couth knaw He … na wald him heir His laittis na his lessons leir c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 503.
Ladyis leir thir lessonis & be no lassis fundin 1574 Davidson Three Reformers 104.
The difference … Unto our off-spring shall appeir, Whereby the lesson they may leir a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxxv. 15.
Thow leyr this lessoun at my layr In baill be blyth for that is best a1570-86 Maitland Ib. xciv. 83.
My counsale I giff generalie To all women … This lessoun for to cun perqueir a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 404 (L).
Wysdome biddis thé wyslie way The sentence of phelosophie, Ane lessoun worthe to leir Id. Misc. P. vi. 36.
I felt fra anis I entred in that airt, A grit delyte that leson for to leir