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.
Lerit, Leirit, Lerd, ppl. a. Also: leryd, leyryt. [ME. lered (c 1154), lerd (Cursor M.), e.m.E. lerid, lerde, mod. north. Eng. dial. leared; Lere v.] Of a person: Educated, hence also and chiefly, belonging to the clergy, clerical.Freq. coupled with lawit (Lawit a. 2 b), q.v. for some further examples.1427 Chart. (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 40.
I … oblis me … al my gudis … at the wil of the said Johne to be distrenȝeit foroutyn lefe of ony jugis lerit or seculere c1420 Wynt. viii. 1769 (W).
The Inglismen slew … Als wele lerit as seculare c1450-2 Howlat 122.
Bot I sall call my cardinallis & my counsall Patriarkis & prophetis, of lerit the laif Ib. 214.
The martoune [etc.] … Lichtit, as lerit men, law by that laike Ib. 365. Ib. 446.
With lordis of Scotland, lerit and the laif a1500 Henr. III. 171/29 (Ch. & M.).
Lerit folk [B. Lernit men] suld tech the peple of the best c1500-c1512 Dunb. lx. 41.
The lerit sone of erll or lord, … Panting ane prelottis countenance c1475 Wall. (1570) v. 348.
The wedow had thre sonnis that war leirit 1575 Reg. Privy C. II. 478.
That thair be onelie ane forme of grammar techeit … and … that the same may be aggreit be … certane of the maist leirit scolemaisteris
