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.
Lernit, Leirnit, Learnit, Lairnet, ppl. a. Also: -eit, -itt, leirant; lern-, leirn-, learned, -id, learnd. Superl. leirnd-, learnet-, lairneitest, leirnest. [e.m.E. and ME. learned, lernd, lerned, -yd (14 th c.).](Not synonymous with Lerit ppl. a.)
1. Of persons: Learned, widely or deeply read, erudite.(a) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 33/17.
Ȝe wyll appeill to the rest of ȝour lernit theologis … in Scotland and Geneua 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. ii.
Sum regent or pedagogis lernit and of jugement 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest viii.
Weil lernit phisicianis, quhais conseill … is baith profitable and necessar 1588 King Cath. Tr. 202/2.
The kallendar of lait reformeit be … aduys of the maist lerneit and expert mathematicians of this age c1650 Spalding I. 226.
Thir war tuo lernit divynes, who with sum vther Doctouris of Abirdein wold not imbrace the covenant(b) 1562 Montgomery Mem. 185.
Maister James Makgill … clerk of regester, and Dauid Forres, gennerall of the cunȝehous, tua of the leirnit and nobill men appoyntit 1569 Acts III. 30/1.
Ane artickle of the leirnit men of this realme, desyring letteris to flureis 1570 Prot. Bk. A. Lawson i.
That … Alexander Lausone … is ane persone able qualefeit leirnit and idoneous to … exerce the office of notarie 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 66.
I meruell … That sic ane leirnit man as ȝe … suld disdaine [etc.] 1583 Prot. Bk. J. Scott MS. 155.
The samyn personage … sould be … disponit to ane vther leirnit and qualifeit man hable to preiche the word of God c1590 Fowler II. 37/2.
To be reputed leirnit amangs the ignorants c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxvi. 9.
Hes thow nocht hard of mony leirant schyre Thus sayit [etc.]superl. 1622-6 Bisset I. 66/20.
He … directit his … leirnest counsalouris, and lawaris, … to reporte to him … the lawes thairoff(c) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 20/23.
Ȝour awin best learnit scoleris 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 80/21.
Heich and graue subiectis specially drawin out of learnit authouris(d) 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 85/24.
In Theologie euerie ane prætends to be vearie lairnet vithout all instruction(e) 1560 Bk. Disc. 195.
A certane reull how that ye sall distribute the ministeris and lerned men a1585 Maitl. Q. xlix. 8.
Indewit with vertewis sa devine As leirned Pallas rediviue 1597 James VI Dæmonol. 21.
Being so learned a knaue as he is 1600-1610 Melvill 257.
They war bathe lerned men, bot the Bischopes war … prepared maters 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 138.
My lord bishope of St Androis ane lerned and venerable prelat 1649 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 588.
Learnid
b. absol.1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 101.
Into the quhilk [congregation] ar contenit ȝoung and auld, pure and ryche, lernit and lawit 1558-66 Knox II. 460.
Johne Knox in the end was commandit to wryte … to the leirnit in uther Kirkis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 62/21.
As a theologe I profes me to be nane, nor ȝit of the nummir of the hie leirnit Ib. 73/4.
Ȝour determinationis … (be the best leirnit declarit in ȝour contrare) c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 12.
Euerie creature Learnd, vnlearnd, auld, ȝung [etc.] 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 177/592.
These learnit learnid it haue euen of thaire colledgesuperl. c 1580 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 94.
Quhat proffit this hes bene … lett the leirndest wnderstand 1596 Dalr. II. 224/14.
His expositioune vpon the fourt buke of Wisdome is maist commendet with the learnetest 1600-1610 Melvill 593.
The lairneitest, godliest, and best of the ministerie
2. Of things: a. Acquired by study. b. Pertaining to or characterised by learning or erudition.a. 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. ii. 55.
I, ȝit ane novice in my new learned airtb. a1585 Maitl. Q. xciv. i. 12.
O Muse … thir my verse with lerned skill inspyre c1590 James VI in c1590 Fowler I. 18/6.
So Homer was … into his learned dayes 1638 Spalding I. 100.
With my hartlie thankis for your lerned panes
