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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LECTURE, n., v. Also lectur. [′lɛktər] Sc. church usage:

†I. n. A discourse delivered in church of a less formal nature than a sermon and consisting of a running commentary on a passage of Scripture.Sc. 1709 W. Steuart Collections i. iv. § 3:
A lecture, or exposition of a large portion of Scripture, ordinarily a whole chapter.Wgt. 1724 Session Bk. Glasserton MS. (18 Oct.):
He is appointed to appear Sabbath next before the congregation in the time of the lecture and also in the time of the sermon.Ayr. 1735 Ayr Presb. Reg. MS. (30 April):
The Presbytery Unanimously agreed that the lecture which at present is a part of the private tryals should be delivered from the Pulpit in place of the forsaid Exegesis.Slg. 1755 G. I. Murray Records Falkirk Parish (1888) II. 184:
Two of the elders shall take a tour through the town immediately after the lecture.Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy vi.:
That's the ordinary for evening lecture on this side the Border.Sc. 1895 A. R. MacEwen Life J. Cairns 323:
The afternoon service was the same in arrangement, but not in substance. The lecture gave place to a sermon of a more or less hortatory type.

II. v. To deliver such a discourse. Hence lecturer, agent n.Wgt. 1708 Session Rec. Kirkinner MS. (4 April):
He did quarrell the minister on the wedding day in Barwhanie … in a publick company how he came to lecture att a baptism and wedding.Sc. 1774 Dmf. Weekly Mag. (8 Feb.) 288:
At Edinburgh, the rev. Mr John Trail morning-lecturer in the New North Kirk.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet xii.:
You will sing six double verses of the hundred and nineteen — and you may lecture out of the Lamentations.