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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
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S(c)ience, Sciens, n. Also: s(c)yence, -ens, -ance; sayance. Pl. -is, etc.; also science, sciens. [ME and e.m.E. sciens (Rolle), pl. ciences, science (both 14th c.), F. science, L. scientia, f. scient- pres. p. stem of scīre to know.]

1. Knowledge regarded as a power of the human mind, conferred by God (in Catholic theology, one of the ‘gifts of the Holy Ghost’); the act or fact of knowing, or having knowledge (of something); knowledge as a personal attribute. c1420 Ratis R. 1368.
Thow mone forbere gret couatyce, Sen it for-dois perfyt sciens 1456 Hay II 114/31.
The quhilk science He [sc. God] has maid revelacioun of till oure alde ancienne faderis and philosophouris and prophetis c1460 Thewis Wysmen 85.
The [wise man's] mouth schawis wysdome of the vys, His lyppis honorys sciens ay c1475 Wall. xi 1270.
For science cummys bot off the haly gaist c1490 Irland Asl. MS 69/23.
And for my science my werteu [etc.] … & other giftis of God Id. Mir. I 41/3.
The gift of science that teichis a persoune to life richtwisly to the plesaunce of the gret Lord Ib. 78/34.
The tre of sciens of gud & euill c1515 Asl. MS I 324/21.
Marcurius god of slepe science riches 1513 Doug. Conscience 9.
Fra conscience the con thay clip away And maid of conscience science and na mair c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke i 77.
Thou sall … geue science of heil to His pepile, into remissioun of thare synnis Id. Rom. x 2.
Israel followand the law of richtuisnes com nocht perfitelie into the law of richtuisnes. … Thai haue lufe of God bot nocht eftire [L. secundum] science [P. kunnyng, Vulg. scientiam]. For thai nocht knawand Goddis richtuisnes … ar nocht subiect to the richtuisnes of God 1533 Gau 13/17.
Thay that desiris lowine or vane gloir for thair science or visdome or of ony oder giftis of God [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10535.
God of His sapience That to ȝour sone had send him sic science, To knaw the voce of the byrds in the air a1561 Norvell Meroure 58b.
And compted science to be of valor noght Except it were with ardent mynd & thoght 1562-3 Winȝet I 133/10.
We exhort ȝou … as ȝe knaw science to be the gift of God, sua ȝe wald remembir it to be indifferent to guid or ewil 1634 Johnston Diary I 198.
I … conjured Him to contineu His favour by blissing me in it with science, conscience, and exercise of both … for His glory … and my salvationpersonified 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1813.
With him ar assessouris four of ane assent, Science, Prudence, Justice, Sapience

2. Knowledge that has been acquired, as by learning or study; learning in general, esp. book-learning. Also science of clergy.Freq. in collocation with such words as cunning, knawlege, lare, letteris, also vertew. Also, to get, have, lere, study science (to do something).(1) 1375 Barb. iv 675 (C).
As it wes vounderfull … How ony man throu sciens [Sk. reads steris] may Knaw the thingis that ar to cum a1400 Leg. S. xxi 66.
Til Athenas … gere the barnis gang to layre, Fore science habundis thare a1500 Henr. Fab. 667.
Ane worthie doctour of diuinitie … in science wonder sle 1490 Irland Mir. III 52/4.
Thar be mony iugis that has power science and autorite to remytt the syn Id. Asl. MS 30/16.
Bot the doctor subtile Scote gret of science and doctor of Paris a1500 Seven S. 172.
He sawe ane litill sterne … Quhar throwe be science he aspyd Ib. 2192.
In sciens I se thow art expart 1492 Myll Spect. 279/5.
That nane sciens nor wit may awaill quhar wemen caistis thame to dissaue the men c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 60.
I se thé haltane in thy harlotrie And in to uthir science no thing slie a1538 Abell 93b.
Michell mastir Scot gret medecinar florist in science in his tyme 1560 Rolland Seven S. 329.
I seik no moir Bot ȝour ane sone to … teiche, and into science bring a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 119/1.
Science makis men proud, cherite edifyis 1562-3 Winȝet II 32/23.
A grete maister … of sa grete science, that he mot appere to his awin scoleris to knaw nocht only manly thingis, bot also [etc.] 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. 19a in Paisley Mag. (1828) 384.
The barne that … thinkis throw scyence to wpryis, Man thoill oft straikes hounger and cawlde(2) 1456 Hay II 77/35.
Quhilkis thingis certaynly ar sa subtile and hye science and understanding that scantly may ony spirit mortall tak ony knaulage tharof Id. Alex. 838.
Bot he was … weill temperit in prudence off hie knawleg in virtue and science c1460 Regim. Princ. 131, 132 (Fairf.).
Vertu cumys of science & of lare & science cumys only of Goddis grace a1500 Henr. Fab. 148.
Quha is enemie to science and cunning Bot ignorants that vnderstandis nocht 1490 Irland Mir. I 62/4.
Be experiens cummys science & knawlage, as writis … Arestotiles c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 203/1.
To speik off science, craft or sapience, Off vertew, morall cuning or doctryne 1513 Doug. i Prol. 85.
Fader of bukis, protectour to sciens and lair, My speciall gud Lord Henry, Lord Sanct Clair c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 491.
[The Sibils] Weill exercisit in science and studie 1555–6 Reg. Privy S. IV 555/2.
That the want … of cunning men … hes bene the occasioun of the decay of knawlege and science within the samin [realm] … and that florischeing of lettiris, knawlege and science is … to the greit decoring of the cuntrie 1562-3 Winȝet I 23/13.
I iugeit the teching of the ȝouthhed in vertew and science 1569 Reg. Privy S. VI 503/1.
[The said Henry is] sufficientlie qualifeit in lettiris, science and gude behaviour 1586 Reg. Privy S. in Orig. Par. II ii 425.
The gude and fervent affectioun borne be … Williame Ros … towards science and lettres 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. 10b.
Wisdome becwmes of scyence and of lair And scyence cwmes ewer be Goddis grace 1609 Acts IV 442/2.
Sanctandrois the most ancient … fountene of science and knawlege(3) c1420 Ratis R. 143.
Thow may with thin eris here To ler sciens that master redis c1460 Wisd. Sol. (STS) 55.
Quha-sa ekis sciens till hyme, ekis hyme mekile payne and sorow a1500 Henr. Fab. 154.
Weill wer that man … that mocht All his lyfe dayis in perfite studie wair To get science Ib. 1373 (Bann.).
[I] to the scoullis ȝude And science studeit mony a day a1500 Colk. Sow iii 57.
Rycht so he that hes science and it abusis … God will it geif to him that hes far moir c1490 Irland Asl. MS 19/27.
The confessour suld haue sciens and discrecoun to discerne betuix veniale & dedly syn a1500 Seven S. 92.
Quhidder he sciens has or nane 1501 Reg. Privy S. I 105/2.
[Cuthbert Hume was licensed] to pas … to Parisch to the skulis to lere thare vertuis and sience 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 134.
Thay tuke that ȝoung prince frome the sculis, Quhare he … Was lernand vertew and science 1574 15th Rep. Hist. MSS App. ix 26.
For his intertenment at the scholis to get lair, sience and knawledge(4) 1375 Barb. iv 724.
How that thai throw science [C. craft] of clergi … Couth tell quhatkyn perell apperis To thaim that [etc.] 1460 Hay Alex. 552.
Than Alexander was warni[s]t mychtilie In wit wisdome and science of clergie(5) 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 83.
We ar insularis duelland in ilis seuerit aluterlie fra science of lettres

b. A particular corpus of knowledge possessed by an individual or group. a1400 Leg. S. xl 102.
& dressit hyme Rome [for] to seke Gyf he mycht thare his science eke c1400 Troy-bk. i 520.
Scho feill syse Gert fall Eclyps one wondre wyse … by hyr science collaterale a1500 Lanc. 451.
For we can noght fynd in til our sciens, Tweching this mater, ony ewydens c1490 Porteous Noblenes 184/14 (A).
And that is … repref & schame for thare a man tynis his name & his sciens and his gudis … gais to nocht c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 162/28.
To sum man thair it was no play, The preving of his sciens; In pottingry he wrocht grit pyne; He murdreist mony in medecyne 1513 Doug. vi x 85.
Thai quhilkis, by thar craftys or science fyne, … Thar lyfe illumynat and annornyt cleir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5684.
Ypocras tuik seiknes … Than kest his buikis & socht his awin science 1562-3 Winȝet I 16/8.
Giue Johne Knox and ȝe affirmis ȝour selfis lauchful be ressoun of ȝour science [etc.]

c. Theoretical knowledge or theory as contrasted with practice. 1456 Hay II 17/12.
Sa that ignorant ȝong lordis barnis mycht first lere the science be study and speculacioun and syne efter thai mycht … lere the practik of the ordre 1586 Misc. Bann. C. II 213.
‘The Sciens of surveance’, price iij s.

d. A particular body of knowledge, taught or set down to do something, i.e., for a particular end. 1490 Irland Mir. II 104/16.
For heir I haue gevin doctrine and sciens to argw agane the … infidelis that admyttis nocht our scriptur

e. The factual knowledge required in a court of law or the like.In the phr. of (one's) certane science (and propir motive). 1511 Reg. Privy S. in Exch. R. XIII 444.
And gif ony takkis or fewis be sett … without consent of the said reverend fadir … we decerne thaim irritant, cassant, and annullant of oure awin propir motive and certane science 1540–1 Reg. Privy S. II 575/2.
We, of oure awne propir motyve and certane science, ratifyis and apprevis oure saidis utheris letteres … concernyng the premisses 1541–2 Ib. 665/1.
Attoure oure soverane lord, of his certane science and propir motive, revokis, retretis … and dischargeis all utheris giftis c1575 Balfour Pract. 528.
Gif ony persoun wittinglie, and of certane science, receiptis thift … he may be accusit … as the principal theif

f. ? (A man's) mind or intellect. But cf. quot. Barb. under 2 (1) above. 1375 Barb. iv 675 (E).
As it wes wounderfull perfay How ony mannys science [C. man throu sciens] may Knaw thingis that ar to cum

3. A particular branch of learning or knowledge; a subject of study in which is involved the application or deduction of general principles.The sevin sciencis (liberall), often used for ‘the group of studies comprised by the Trivium (Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric) and the Quadrivium (Arithmetic, Music, Geometry, Astronomy)’ (OED). Also personified. See also Liberal(l adj. 1.Freq. with defining adj. or adj. phr. specifying more precisely the subject or group of subjects referred to. For further instances, see Liberal(l adj. 1, Natural(l adj. 3, Mathematik n. b (1), Philosophicall adj. and Phisik n. 1 and 3.(1) sing. a1400 Leg. S. xxv 583.
He … in a buk of that science Red, a-gane his mastere defence c1400 Troy-bk. i 401.
A science our the laif … Sho had in daynte … The buk is callit methamatyk Ib. 490.
Astrologye, In the quhilk science certanly Scho was maist wise in-to hyr dais c1466–80 Letter from Lord Hamilton.
I besek ȝour ladischip … at ȝhe walde gar hym be enterit to men that ar best of that sciens 1531 Bell. Boece I 232.
Thow sall find thair generall study in every science a1540 Freiris Berw. 336 (M).
Bot gif ȝe preif that practik or we part Be quhat kin science nigromansy or airt 1551 Hamilton Cat. 5.
Ane scholar quhilk is to leir ony special science man first leir the beginning or rudimentis of that science 1562 Soc. Ant. VII 451.
I have said … that musik will pereishe. … We se be experience, that craft nor syence is not learnit bot to the end he may leiue be it quhen he has the craft or science 1562-3 Winȝet I 24/23.
That sa few childer war haldin at the studie of ony science 1599 Acts IV 187/1.
It is expreslie prohibite that ony subiect tak vpone hand to writ prent or publische ony buiks in quhatsoeuir discipline or science … to the preiudice … of the present state 1618 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 184.
Dischargis James Keith … to teache bairnis ather in musick or any uther science till he be admittit be the counsell to that effectuninfl. pl. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 332.
He tuk with hym Mocumba, For til enforme fyrst & lere In vertuse & in science sere ?1438 Alex. ii 2562.
Bot thusgate sayis our antecessouris Of all science and doctouris c1420 Wynt. viii 408.
A clerk solempne in sere sciens, Mayster off art, and in morale Phylosophi and naturale He wes grwndyt perfytly 1456 Hay I 12/25.
And as of the see departis all othir wateris, sa out of haly scripture departis all othir science that is in this warld a1500 Seven S. 35.
Deliuer him in to my cure And … I sall him all science leir Ib. 49.
The child lord sall be lerd Within foure ȝeris our sciens all 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 369.
He leeritt all thir science during … his captiuite 1535 Stewart 3147.
In till Athenis … Quhair all science war kennit craftiuslie Musick, phisick, art and philosophie a1568 Bann. MS 32a/70.
With science seir exertand all solassing. or uninfl. pl. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii 27.
In duble science tacht wes he; In cannone and diuinite c1460 Thewis Wysmen 61.
Sa dois maisteris that sciens techis 1587 Reg. Privy S. in Orig. Par. II ii App. 832.
John Barbour … not being ane scollare, nowther vsing the musick or vthir scienceinfl. pl. 1456 Hay I 221/34.
Scolaris the quhilkis … tak the payne and travaile to … study in sciencis Ib. II 17/30.
Thare is sa mony sculis in sere contreis of sciencis of clergy 1555–6 Reg. Privy S. IV 556/1.
Maister Alexander Sym … sall await upoun oure … moder [sc. Mary of Guise] and be hir lectoure and reidar in the lawis or ony uthiris sciencis 1560 Bk. Disc. 214.
Wha … shall be fund sufficientlie instructit in thir aforesaid sciences, shall be laureat and graduat in philosophie c1568 Lauder Minor P. iv 4.
That thou culd teache all sciencis perqueir 1577 Reg. Privy S. VII 189/2.
The intertenement of virtew and literature in all sciences within his hienes realme is … honorabill for his estait 1578 Ib. 262/1.
[Mr. Alexander Brysoun] is presentlie at the studie of theologie and is of guid mynde … to continew thairat and uther sciences a1578 Pitsc. II 284/6.
Gif famous men of leirning of scienceis had beine placeit in thame [sc. bischoprics, etc.] 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 17/9.
Moyses [was] … brought vp … in all the sciences of the Ægyptians c1610 Melville Mem. 19.
A gret scollair in dyuers hich scyences(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 52.
Scho had leyryte the maste part Of the sewine sciens c1400 Troy-bk. i 397. 1460 Hay Alex. 409.
Alexander haid lerit alhale The sevin science of clergie naturall a1500 Prestis of Peblis 356 (A).
In all the science sevyne he was an A per C 1490 Irland Mir. I 11/25.
[He] knew philosophy and the sevin sciens and gretly occupiit him in the haly science of theologie a1500 Bk. Chess 1662.
A vaile gret clerk … In phesik and the sevyne sciens liberall 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10484.
Sicker cunning he had in science seuin [etc.]personified c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii 119.
The seuin science compleitlie thay war thair(3) a1400 Leg. S. xl 69.
& science hals [read hale] of haly kirke He lerit als c1420 Wynt. ii 160.
He kend … The scyens off astronomy 1456 Hay II 23/7.
Thai war the mare sufficiand tobe jugis be the knaulage of science of lawis Ib. 111/18.
That the science of thame [sc. the stars and planets] is sa stark that nane may knaw it 1490 Irland Mir. I 82/31.
This … hevinly science of the scripture 1513 Doug. xii vii 34.
The sciens and the lair, The myght and fors of strenthy herbys fyne 1533 Boece 54.
Ptolome … richt cunnyng baith in the science of mathematic and cosmographie(4) 1460 Hay Alex. 556.
Aristotill, quhilk was the worthiest In science naturall 1490 Irland Mir. II 12/26, 28.
And gif in vther science naturale … scolaris suld trow to thar maister … ressoune wauld that in sciens and knawlage super naturall … we trowit to God 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 395.
I vnderstude no science spirituall 1549 Compl. 69/10.
In the middis of that mantil … diuerse sciensis diuyne ande humain 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 82.
Efter the … capasite of oure sensis rude and onlernit, but science rethoricall 1563 Reg. Privy S. V i 396/2.
To mak the said college to be providit of sic ressonable leving that thairin the liberale sciences may be plainlie techit a1578 Pitsc. I 159/23.
This bischope … vas … weill leirned in devyne syences 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 6/5.
This worde magie in the Persian toung, importes … to be ane contemplator or interpretour of divine and heavenlie sciences

In extended senses b. Lore derived from both study and experience. c. A pseudo-science.b. 1549 Compl. 6/26.
Ȝit … ther disordinat intentione vas haistyly repulsit ande extinct be the martial sciens of ȝour nobil & vailȝeant fadir [sc. the Duke of Guise]c. 1574 Acts III 87/2.
Ony vther that fenȝeis thame to haue knawlege in physnomie palmestre or vtheris abused sciencis

4. In man, maister of science, in sense 2 or 3 above. c1420 Ratis R. 1620.
Misteris of sciens gret and wys And lordis baith [etc.] Ib. 1782.
For-thi trow to the visest men Of sciens that couth tech and ken 1460 Hay Alex. 279.
Alexander haid maisteris of science … Him to instruct in science and lair 1562-3 Winȝet I 16/16.
The saidis lordis and gentilmen being men of science be thair awin iugement

5. A practical skill; a craft, trade, or occupation requiring such skill. 1549 Compl. 8/23.
To leyrne sciens, craftis ande mecanyke occupations maist comodius ande conuenient for the public veil a1570-86 Maitl. F. 237/4.
Fane wald I … Ane sang mak plesand of sentence To everie mannis appetyte Bot thair in failȝeis my science 1573 Selkirk B. Ct. MS July.
That nae freeman be partners with unfreemen of na syance and craft 1576 Crim. Trials I ii 51.
Declarit that sche hirself had na kynd of art nor science swa to do [sc. help sick persons, etc.] a1605 Montg. Flyt. 64 (T).
Fals feckles fowlmart, loe heir a defyance! Go sey thy science [H. sayance] 1599 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 12.
To tak tryall of the qualificatioun of the haill maisonis, … of thair art, craft, scyance and antient memorie 1617 Perth Hammermen in Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 260.
The craft have admitted him to work in all the arts and science of smyddie craft 1694 Ib. 273.
That William Suord has no more libertie … to scharp knifes … bot onlie to dress suordis [etc.] … and nae other work of smith trade not belonging to his science of [sic] calling of whatsomever sort